BBC Creative Allies

The global and national outcry against racism ignited by the tragic and senseless killing of George Floyd means the stakes for inclusive representation are higher than ever before. The challenge for our creative industry is great but not insurmountable.

Once we unequivocally accept there is no monopoly on creativity then we can actively seek the diversity we require for our industry to thrive. The current global pandemic has only exacerbated this pressing need.

Why? The Power of Allies

The recent national and global events around racial injustice has inspired many leaders and those with agency to ask what they can do and how they can be effective allies.

The BBC’s Creative Allies initiative brings together the creative industry to act in a meaningful way and educate their organisations and workforce on how to be real allies. This project aims to connect opportunity and aspiration by providing guidance to those in positions of influence so they can best use that influence to improve diversity in the creative sector, and society as a whole.

Leaders will learn the tools to engage and develop diverse aspiring creatives from underrepresented backgrounds. This is not only the right thing to do but important to deliver innovation and fresh ideas that the creative sector needs - in a manner that creates sustainable future talent pipelines.

What? The Ally Track

The BBC’s Academy has created The Ally Track, a digital training tool that is free for organisations and
 the general public to use. We invite creative champions to choose the type of ally they will commit to becoming and organisation’s leader to also encourage their workforce to do the same.

The tool that will help the user understand how a person's advantages or disadvantages in life can affect their access to career opportunities. It demonstrates how through allyship, you can create a culture of helping others around you at work.

Please note: It is not permitted to use any part of the BBC Creative Allies ‘The Ally Track’ digital training tool for commercial purposes (to make a profit).

Which ally can I be?

Creative Allies Champions choose the type of ally they commit to being. Each organisation’s leader also encourages their workforce to do the same, and choose an ally that has been based on Karen Catlin’s “Better Allies” process.

Who? Collaboration = Change

We are way beyond the point of empty rhetoric. Our actions must embody our creed of non-impartiality to discrimination. This means the BBC is committed to being part of the solution through our output and employment practices and also in terms of how we work with our creative industry partners.

The Creative Allies initiative brings together extraordinary leaders, talent, companies and institutions all around the purpose of effective allyship. Many creative organisations and business leaders have already signed and agreed to participate - recognising that they must use their influence to ensure that their industries take action to unleash, nurture and develop the creativity of the overlooked and underrepresented.