Talent not representative of London's diversity

New research from the TUC has shown that broadcasters are making it hard for those from poorer or ethnic minority backgrounds to embark on careers in the industry.

The report - supported by the TUC's London office, BECTU and Skillset - shows that while a third of the London workforce is from ethnic minority communities, just 8% of workers in the audio visual sector in London are black or Asian.

The research, published to coincide with the latest 'Move on Up' event organised by broadcasting union BECTU, has been written by the Working Lives Research Institute at London Metropolitan University.

Other findings include the revelation that a third of final year students on media-related training courses felt unqualified as a result to get a job in the industry. It also showed that the industry tended to recruit from within "limited cultural circles", with a workforce largely from white and high-income backgrounds. New entrants were also shown to be expected to work without pay at the start of their careers.

Skillset chief executive Dinah Caine said: "More needs to be done by training providers and employers to create effective pathways into the industry for all London communities. Training must be accessible, relevant and keep pace with industry needs. London is a world city and its diversity is a genuine asset in the global economy. Employers have got to get better at taking on youngsters from ethnic minority backgrounds."

Today at Congress House, the TUC's London headquarters, BBC newsreader George Alagiah and Sir Trevor McDonald will open BECTU's 'Move on Up in News', set up following a direct request from BBC News and ITV News/ITN, and organised in conjunction with the BBC. It will give black and Asian professionals the chance to have one to one meetings with top executives and senior journalists from all the UK's major news broadcasters.

BECTU general secretary Gerry Morrissey said: "Too many black and ethnic minority workers meet a glass door when it comes to accessing opportunities for employment, commissions and progression in our industry. As a result, employers are recruiting from a pool of talent that is an increasingly small share of what's actually available. This is an unsustainable approach in the current context of international competition in the audio visual sector."