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Diversity & inclusion

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion feeds into and underpins all that SIGN does. We recognise the strength and creativity that a diverse and inclusive workforce brings, and aim to increase access to opportunities across the screen industries.

Striving towards a more diverse workforce will lead to a larger pool of skills and talent, and help to make the Yorkshire and Humber region the UK’s centre for expertise in digital creativity.

SIGN works with the screen industries to initiate and support change by:

  • Providing placements across the sector for Black, Asian and minority ethnic applicants, for women, for disabled people, for those from low socio-economic backgrounds, for those who want to return to work after raising a family, and for those identifying as LGBTQ.
  • Making bursaries available for necessities ranging from childcare costs to travel and training.
  • Establishing a mentoring programme and work closely with the sector to support the revision of diversity and inclusion policies and practices of hiring.
  • Mapping the statistics of the screen sectors in Yorkshire and the Humber, creating a solid and agile database to show and share the state of diversity in the region.

Another key piece of work that SIGN undertakes is listening to and liaising with experts. By experts, we mean not only regional and national bodies, but, importantly, those with lived experience of screen sector inequalities. Their stories are difficult to hear but they must be heard and seen. To this end, we’ve funded and collaborated on a series of personal testimony film shorts, made by the industry, for the industry.

While the reasons behind inequalities are complex, it is not right that some people still don’t have equal access or opportunities in the screen sectors, both behind the scenes and on-screen. The excuse that diverse talent can’t be found is, if it ever was, no longer credible. Talent is everywhere – and it’s high time we saw it.

The diversity and inclusion workstream is led by the University of Leeds.

Projects

  • Industry Voices

    Industry Voices is a series of research-led video interviews which probe, document and illuminate the experiences of individuals who have...

  • Placements, Internships and Insights

    SIGN offers guidance to Yorkshire and Humber-based SMEs operating in the screen industries looking to host a placement, internship or...

  • Bursaries

    SIGN Bursaries has now closed for applicants SIGN bursaries are financial awards to support those who face challenges getting into...

  • Free Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Consultancy with Dr Leanne Dawson

    Would your organisation benefit from free Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) consultancy? Do you have any EDI issues you would...

  • EDI Consultant Call

    EDI Consultant Call has now closed for applicants Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) underpins all that we do at SIGN....

  • Inclusive Teams Training

    Inclusive Teams Training has now closed for applicants Inclusive Teams Training is a free online course helping screen industries businesses...

  • Early Career Support

    The Early Career Support scheme has now closed for applicants. Early Career Support is a free, comprehensive, six month training...

  • SIGN Up! Mentoring scheme

    SIGN Up is a mentoring scheme from the Screen Industries Growth Network