Shattering the Class Barrier: Latest study uncovers a viable answer for promoting socioeconomic diversity in the UK Creative Sector

London, UK – The UK’s creative industries have contributed an impressive £124 billion to the economy in 2024, a 6% increase since 2019. However, despite this growth, a concerning trend has emerged – working-class representation in the industry is on the decline.

According to the latest Impact Report released by Creative Mentor Network (CMN) today, the UK’s creative industries are facing a drop in socioeconomic diversity. Data from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) shows that working-class representation has decreased from 26% in 2020 to only 19% in 2023.

In response to this crisis, CMN has been working hard to address the issue through mentoring, industry partnerships, and direct support for young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. In the past year alone, the charity has supported 317 young people through mentoring, conducted 14 mentoring programmes with 50 leading creative businesses, facilitated 1,676 professional connections for aspiring creatives, and helped 129 mentees gain work experience or employment.

Katie Thomson-Greene, CEO of CMN, is calling on the industry to take action: “The UK’s creative industries are thriving, but it is disheartening to see that fewer young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are able to break into the industry. The class ceiling not only perpetuates unfairness, but it also stunts innovation and creativity. Our data shows that mentoring works, but real change requires a collective effort from industry leaders, businesses, and policymakers.”

Through CMN’s programmes, young people have been able to increase their knowledge of roles and career paths in the creative industry, understand which companies are the right fit for them, and gain the confidence to pursue a career in this field.

In light of these findings, CMN is urging creative companies to invest in socioeconomic diversity initiatives, rethink their hiring practices to break down barriers to entry, and support mentoring and training programmes that aim to nurture new talent.

The full Creative Mentor Network Impact Report 2024 is available for download on the organization’s website: www.creativementornetwork.org/impact.

Press Contact:
Creative Mentor Network
Email: info@creativementornetwork.org
Phone: +44 (0) 20 1234 5678
Website: www.creativementornetwork.org