Concern arose recently when the Creative Diversity Network unveiled figures that show there are lower than half as many disabled people working within the TV industry compared to other general workforces in the UK. Whilst 11% of people in other general workforces consider themselves disabled, the figure decreases to 5% within the TV industry. The study also brought to light how the figure falls from 6% of independent production staff, to 4% for those working in terrestrial TV and then finally to a jaw-dropping 3% for those working in satellite or cable. Within news, the figure increases to 7.6% of disabled employees but then significantly drops to 4% of those working in both daytime and factual TV.
The Creative Skillset’s TV skills council chairman Andrew Chowns said: “The TV industry has much work to do to create a truly diverse and representative workforce. The progress that has been made in recent years to encourage more BAME and women professionals must be extended to people with disabilities”. The CEO of independent producers’ trade body Pact and Creative Diversity Network chair, John McVay went on to say: “TV can’t afford to miss out on the talent and skills of disabled people. Although we still have work to do to get more BAME people into TV, I’m determined that CDN will also be at the forefront of the drive to attract more disabled people”.
Although the figures of disabled employees within UK workforces as a whole are generally low anyway, these unveiled numbers revealed within networks such as BBC, Channel 4, Sky and ITV are alarming.
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