Creative industries excluding young BAME people in London, report says

Young people from ethnic minority backgrounds in London are being excluded from the creative industries, according to a new report.

Factors including poor careers advice at school, employers requiring degrees for entry-level positions and unpaid internships are contributing to the problem, according to a report from Partnership For Young London and Roundhouse.

Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) young people often feel unwelcome in office environments, the report said, with one young person in a focus group saying: “You feel like you have to speak a certain way just for them to understand you.”

Youth advocacy group Partnership For Young London and Roundhouse, a creative space in Chalk Farm, is calling on the creative industries to change recruitment practices.

They are also asking the Government to overhaul the careers advice system and reform the funding available to young people who decide against going to university.

Sharon Long, the director Partnership For Young London: “Young Londoners are an asset to this city and its creative industries, yet their expectations of the sector make for grim reading.

“Many expect to have to persevere past multiple challenges; from financial burdens, a lack of arts education, and pessimism from those they trust most.

“The creative industries are one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors, and we need a new creative careers advice and guidance strategy that reflects that.”

Marcus Davey, chief executive and artistic director, Roundhouse, added: “Our sector is failing young people and we run the risk of alienating the brilliant diverse talent from our organisations if we don’t make drastic changes to make recruitment and environments more inclusive.”

According to the Department Of Media, Culture And Sport (DCMS), the creative industries includes a wide range of jobs including advertising, architecture and design.