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Audio Visual Entrepreneurship Development Partnership (AVE DP)
1. Aims and Objectives
- To explore innovative approaches to supporting individuals from groups currently under-represented in the audio visual industries to develop the skills, knowledge and experience they need to develop successful businesses, including self-employment, in the sector
- AVE DP evolved out of a clear recognition that a wide range of structural barriers to entry and progression existed for particular groups - women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, over 50s and people from economically disadvantaged areas - in the audiovisual sector
- The work practices and defining characteristics of some parts of the industry, including the predominance of freelancing, job insecurity and informal recruitment practices, all contribute to inequalities of access and progression
- The make-up of AVE DP which included, BBC, Channel 4, Film London and BECTU, itself showed a recognition from the industry of the issues the programme addressed
2. What AVE DP involved
- The Partnership involved 22 organisations from the audiovisual sector, undertaking a programme of 18 projects across the UK involving over 700 people
- Projects:
- 13 projects focused on BME individuals
- 9 focused on individuals with disabilities
- 7 targeted individuals from disadvantaged areas
- 4 targeted women
- 2 focused on older workers - Many of the projects shared common elements, such as the use of mentoring and offering tailored business support, but they varied tremendously in terms of who was being targeted for support
3. Outcomes
- Changing industry practice - through direct engagement with production companies the projects Step Up, Skillset Graduate Fellowship programme and the Production Training Scheme (Disability) achieved direct influence over how the companies involved operate
- Changing industry perceptions - the most innovative work related to projects targeting people with disabilities, as they challenged the notion that employing people with disabilities was a burden for employers
- Creating new networks as a platform for change within the industry - AVE DP enabled likeminded individuals to come together and network through projects such as Compass Point, Dimension 10 and Move On Up, the latter led to the creation of the Radio Industry Diversity Group
- Developing high-quality training and development opportunities - AVE DP was able to provide intensive training support, including bursaries that enabled longer placements, expert mentoring and workshops led by senior industry professionals
- Direct action to diversify the industry - many programme participants have gained employment or developed freelance businesses:
- Channel 4 Researcher Training Programme (Disability): over 60 per cent of participants moved into permanent work in TV production
- Dimension 10: 80 per cent of participants found employment within two weeks of leaving the programme
- Skillset Graduate Fellowship Programme: Over 50 per cent of participants are now in their first permanents jobs in film
- Step Up: Over 50 per cent of participants have been employed by placement providers
- Compass Point: Over 60 per cent of participants are progressing within the industry
- Move on Up: BME attendees to the event reported the following:
- A technician was offered a job on Holby City
- A camera technician was offered work shadowing on Coronation Street
- A producer got a contract at the BBC developing a drama series
- A script writer has been offered the opportunity to write for The Bill
- A participant became a trainee in local radio and then went onto work as a broadcast assistant for Radio 3
- A participant gained a six month contract with a researcher with the BBC Inside Out team
