Channel 4’s Valuable 500 Commitment:
1) Disability reporting and targets
Channel 4 voluntarily measures and publishes disability data to the Board on a quarterly basis, as well as externally on an annual basis. A new real-time diversity reporting tool has been introduced at a leadership level which looks at representation, attrition, and pay gaps broken down by department which allows for greater transparency and accountability. By 2023 Channel 4 is committed to doubling its workforce disability target from 6% to 12%, and aims to achieve 9% on screen representation.
2) Awareness and data sharing campaigns to ensure staff data is up to date
It is important that Channel 4 has accurate data to inform the approach to disability and ensure adjustments can be provided where needed; a key part of that is raising awareness and creating a culture where staff feel able to share a disability. Channel 4 has created an internal disclosure campaign to help achieve that, which also has had the positive additional impact of creating more role models within the workforce.
3) 4Skills Initiatives (previously known as 4Talent)
Channel 4 has relaunched the successful ‘4Talent’ programme under the new ‘4Skills’ umbrella. 4Skills – which aims to turbocharge efforts to find, nurture and develop talent in the Nations and Regions – is attracting people from diverse backgrounds into broadcasting and production, addressing skills gaps and helping those who are already in the industry to progress their careers. It’s building upon existing talent schemes and is increasing Channel 4’s overall impact further.
Following on from the successful Rio Production Training scheme in 2016 which saw 18 production trainees travel to Rio to be part of the Games’ crew, in 2020 14 disabled trainees were placed with independent production companies around the UK. Channel 4 had to adjust given the impact of Covid-19 and the postponement of the Tokyo Paralympics, but offered contract extensions to all apprentices affected to ensure they still get maximum value out of the scheme.
In addition, Channel 4 has launched a refreshed creative diversity, ‘Engage and enable’ disability strategy, focused on driving structural shifts across the industry to increase disabled representation on and off-screen.
This strategy is intended to build on existing work and partnerships in this area and focus even more on building confidence and facilitating opportunities among indies and freelancers off screen. As part of this strategy, Channel 4 plans to launch the UK Television Industry’s first ever disabled talent and welfare policy; implement a dedicated mentor scheme to champion mid and senior level disabled talent and remove barriers; sponsor networking events for indies to meet with disabled production talent; and create more memorable and challenging on-screen moments. Channel 4 will also maintain regular dialogue with disabled people by inviting and encouraging conversation and consultation with disabled viewers and organisations, and disabled professionals within the industry.
