Attracting diverse talent - FT2 

	FT2 Trainee Sound Assistant

FT2 offers training for young people entering the film and television industry.

The opportunity
FT2 recognised an opportunity to help the film and television industry increase the diversity of its workforce.

The initiative
The company set out to promote its apprenticeship-style training to the widest possible audience. This included under-represented groups such as women in technical areas, men working in make-up, people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities.

How it works
FT2 promotes its training through a wide mix of channels, including careers fairs, direct mail to colleges and community groups, and press releases to the media, industry associations and union and guild publications. As well as publicising on their own website they also advertise in specialist and national publications, on radio and websites, including:

•    Asian-e
•    Skill (National Bureau for Students with Disabilities)

Results
This widespread advertising approach has increased the number of applications in each recruitment round by approximately 200, from applicants with a wide variety of backgrounds. The 2005 round attracted 575 applications.

At the end of 2004, FT2 had 30 trainees, from a range of backgrounds, undertaking a variety of programmes. 10 were male, 20 were female, eight were from minority ethnic backgrounds, and five had a disability.

Further information
See the FT2 website.