Director-general Tim Davie calls the BBC drive for diversity ‘mission critical’ as broadcaster unveils plans including panels to ensure authentic portrayal of disabilities
- BBC today announced aims at increasing the diversity of its workforce and stars
- A new expert panel will look into giving an authentic portrayal of disability
- Corporation set targets of 20% BAME employees and a 50:50 gender balance
- Director-general Tim Davie said it is ‘the right thing to do’ in live-streamed event
The BBC’s director-general has described plans to improve diversity at the broadcaster as ‘mission critical’.
On Thursday the corporation announced plans aimed at increasing the diversity of its workforce and improving the portrayal of under-represented groups on screen.
Director-general Tim Davie said in a live-streamed event which launched the plans that the move is ‘the right thing to do’.
A new panel made up of people from inside and outside the broadcaster will help the BBC ensure it gives an authentic portrayal of disability.
Tim Davie, the BBC’s director-general has described plans to improve diversity at the broadcaster as ‘mission critical’
There will also be investment in programmes aimed at progressing the careers of diverse talent, both on and off screen.
The plan also includes initiatives to show how local communities and businesses can work with BBC productions.
There will also be support for BBC teams and programme makers to improve their engagement with under-represented groups.
Mr Davie has previously said the broadcaster must achieve diversity targets for BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) employees of 20 per cent and a 12 per cent representation for disability in the workforce.
A gender balance target of 50:50 has also previously been set.
Speaking on Thursday, he said: ‘It’s a bold number, but it is not that bold because that’s where Britain’s going to be very quickly.
The plans will be supported by the BBC’s creative diversity unit, which was established last year with the appointment of June Sarpong (pictured) as the BBC’s first director of creative diversity
‘If you are not moving at that kind of speed, we have got a problem.’
He added: ‘We do need targets and, by the way, the BBC can sometimes be a bit tough on itself.
‘We have seen real progress in certain areas. On screen there’s been outstanding work.’
Mr Davie added there needs to be a ‘rewiring of the core’ of the BBC.
The plan will be supported by the BBC’s creative diversity unit, which was established last year with the appointment of June Sarpong as the BBC’s first director of creative diversity.
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