成人论坛

Last week Simon Wright collected the 2012 on behalf of the 听(VIP). The award for Best Diversity Initiative is an acknowledgement of the commitment and reputation that Vision has built over the last few years to diversifying its workforce.

Diversity is not just a box to be ticked at the 成人论坛. It鈥檚 important for a number of reasons; it improves the creative process because it brings in new ideas and new ways of looking at the world, it brings new skills and experiences, and it means we better reflect the diversity of our audience.听We believe that this enables us to make better programmes that will be loved by more people.

The VIP scheme significantly impacted on the way , the 成人论坛鈥檚 television production department, has found and recruited entry level staff. Finding a way into the media has not always been straightforward; it was either exploiting your contacts or having the support that enabled you to do work experience for long periods for no money. The VIP was a significant change to that. It ran like a 鈥榯emp desk鈥�, finding, recruiting and training entry level staff and offering them paid short term contracts in line with the business鈥檚 needs.听This has given many young people that crucial foot in the door to working at the 成人论坛, independent production companies and other broadcasters. This success is reflected in the figures; of the people recruited into the pool in 2010, more than 75% are still working in the industry and more than a quarter of them are from a Black or Minority Ethnic background.

It has made a significant impact on people鈥檚 lives too. Tolula Dada was one of the 2010 intake: 鈥淚 never would鈥檝e been able to afford to work unpaid in London to get the necessary experience to begin my TV career and am massively appreciative for the great start in TV that that VIP scheme gave me. Two and a half years after starting as a VIP scheme Production Assistant, I鈥檓 now a story researcher on .鈥�

In 2012 Simon Wright joined the and the VIP became the (PTP). The 成人论坛 Academy has a long history of building diversity across the 成人论坛; last year the , run by Claire Prosser, won the CDN Best Diversity Initiative. The creation of the PTP means successful candidates are now offered opportunities across the whole of the organisation, including 成人论坛 Scotland and Wales,听Audio & Music, as well as TV. The PTP is also the entry point for the the prestigious 12-month training programme for the creative leaders of the future and this year鈥檚 11 trainees are the most diverse ever in terms of their age, gender, ethnic background and social class.

The PTP will be open for its 2013 intake in late February and you can find out more听at the .听听

Simon Smith is Manager, Creativity and Special Projects for College of Production, 成人论坛 Academy