Diversity Pledge

What is the Diversity Pledge?

The Diversity Pledge is a public commitment by independent production companies, in-house producers and other suppliers to take measurable steps to improve diversity in the industry.

The CDN launched the Diversity Pledge with PACT, and the support of the Broadcasting & Creative Industries Disability Network (BCIDN). The BCIDN helps promote real opportunities for disabled people on screen and in production.

The pledge is split into four sections covering different aspects of diversity with practical suggestions on how to improve representation. The approach is flexible – it's up to individual companies to set their own agenda.

Read the latest CDN Diversity Pledge report (PDF).
Read a list of the companies signed up to the CDN Diversity Pledge (PDF).

What do you sign up to?

  1. Recruiting fairly and from as wide a base as possible and encouraging industry entrants and production staff from diverse backgrounds.
  2. Encouraging diversity in output.
  3. Encouraging diversity at senior decision-making levels.
  4. Taking part in, or running, events that promote diversity.

Help getting started

Pact Diversity Adviser Joyce Adeluwoye-Adams will work with all UK indies to provide support on issues including recruiting and casting people from diverse backgrounds and developing company diversity policies and training.

The position of Pact Diversity Advisor, which is partly funded by the BBC and Channel 4, is seen as critical to helping boost social awareness in the independent sector and help production companies deliver on the CDN Diversity Pledge – a forum to ensure the broadcast industry accurately reflects Britain's increasingly multicultural society.

How to contact Joyce: email Joyce or telephone 020 7380 8235.

Broadcasters are committed

"The Diversity Pledge demonstrates major broadcasters' absolute commitment to diversity. We hope the Pledge encourages the UK independent production sector to produce more output that truly reflects the richness of modern Britain."
– Mark Thompson, BBC Director-General

The BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Sky and Turner expect their suppliers to sign up to the initiative and it's anticipated other CDN members will do the same.

The Editorial Specification forms for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Sky will ask if a company has signed up to the Pledge.