UKTV and Talented People are delighted to announce the renewal of their successful diversity partnership for a third year and the partnership’s expansion into recruitment for roles in scripted production.
The renewal is part of UKTV’s long-standing All Voices Initiative, launched in 2019, which funds off screen talent searches to help production companies find and employ freelancers from under-represented backgrounds for UKTV productions.
UKTV first partnered with Talented People in 2023 to help production companies deliver on the broadcaster’s diversity commitments in recruitment to unscripted productions. In that time Talented People has sourced and submitted over 250 candidates for roles from researcher to series producer, with all candidates coming from underrepresented backgrounds.
The renewal for a third year will see Talented People continue to give production companies practical support to build more richly diverse teams and encourage productions to hire more junior to senior candidates from diverse backgrounds across UKTV’s unscripted and – for the first time - scripted productions.
Emile Nawagamuwa, Commissioning Editor, UKTV, said: “Since its inception, UKTV’s All Voices initiative has delivered a total of 128 hires for underrepresented people on our productions, much of this during a time of industry uncertainty. I'm proud that our partnership with Talented People is not only continuing but growing, as we venture into recruitment in scripted content together. Kimberly, Rosie and their team are more than allies and collaborators, they are determined to produce results. Diversity, equity and inclusion is discussed more than it is actioned, and together we continue to take action.”
Kimberly Godbolt, Joint Managing Director, Talented People, said: "Working with UKTV has been brilliant because they actually walk the walk – no endless committees or lip service, just real commitment to making change happen. Over the last two years, we've submitted over 250 quality candidates that may otherwise not have been considered, all from underrepresented backgrounds and all proactively approached because of their talent and skillset. The fact we're expanding into scripted shows this partnership is delivering results. There's nothing more satisfying than connecting brilliant people with opportunities where they can absolutely smash it.”
For more information please contact:
Yvette Dore, Corporate Communications Manager, UKTV
For enquiries about Talented People:
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands – U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY, U&eden, U&GOLD and U&alibi - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview, Freesat and Freely; and to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. Channel & content availability varies by platform. UKTV’s content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media. UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. The broadcaster is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.