Work Advance carries out research, analysis and evaluation to provide insight into the development of industries - including the creative and cultural industries, hospitality, green and health sectors.

The research includes powerful and detailed analysis on diversity and inclusion within each of these industries, and forms a  foundation of data for the WIN Academy Toolkits.

The Work Advance research identified four types of barriers that are consistent across the industries:

• Early life perceptions, role models and societal norms growing up are crucial in setting future career pathways.
• Education foundations are one of the determinants of future entry into the industries, particularly highly skilled sectors.
• Recruitment practices that rely on informal networks lower the likelihood of diversity, closing off employment channels and reducing awareness of career opportunities.
• Barriers to progression include non-inclusive cultures and employment practices, such as inflexible work schedules, inadequate management and poor employment terms and conditions.

Looking specifically at the creative and cultural industries, Work Advance highlighted that, compared with the wider London population, women, people from lower social classes, and disabled people are all underrepresented generally across the creative and cultural industries. There are diversity challenges throughout the various subsets of the creative and cultural industries, but some show stronger representation of ethnic minorities than others, for example, gaming. However, it is apparent much of this diversity is limited to more junior jobs.

In developing this toolkit, we set out to build on the findings from the Work Advance research, and further our understanding of the barriers and enablers to diversity and inclusion. We engaged with employers in the sector and people from the Priority Groups, both individuals who work in the sector and those who do not.