BAME decision-makers needed

The BBC revealed it has hit a range of diversity targets this week – but the next intake of fresh talent via the assistant commissioner scheme can’t come soon enough.

Clear progress has been made across the corporation’s total workforce, where it has hit 14.5% BAME staff. That should be applauded.

But when director general Tony Hall says there is still work to do, he is understating the challenge. In fact, the core message of ‘we’ve hit our targets’ is slightly counterproductive, because there is no sense among the industry of meaningful change with the creative decision-making departments at the BBC.

You have to look some way down the hierarchy of controllers and commissioners before you start to find non-white faces, and until there are leaders in these prominent positions, it feels premature to claim too much success.

That’s why the second iteration of the assistant commissioner scheme is so important. Run in conjunction with Creative Skillset and the CDN, it has been reshaped as the Commissioner Programme, and the BBC is rightly taking the lead.

It will shortly appoint seven individuals from BAME backgrounds or with disabilities (one more than last time) and has committed to two-year contracts.

These are real jobs, with real prospects and the scheme needs to become a significant talent pipeline for the future. Channel 4, Sky, ITV and Channel 5 are also taking part and after a successful start, thanks to talent such as Adrian Padmore and Tilusha Ghelani (pictured), it would be great to see the scheme grow.

I remember asking Nine Lives’ Cat Lewis what single factor would make the most difference to diversity on and off screen, and she was unequivocal: moreBAME commissioners. I think she’s right.

The industry needs a far bigger pool of BAME decision-makers to begin infl uencing programming, and ultimately land the most senior roles.

Senior talent was also a hot topic as BBC Studios director Mark Linsey set out its stall this week. He knows the revamped division will need to build an attractive narrative to entice significant new recruits, as well as bumping up the potential rewards it offers.

Linsey spoke of a sense of dynamism and liberation within BBC Studios, but it is moving into a competitive marketplace just as the battle for talent intensifies further.

Will it be able to winkle out of their jobs the divisional heads or development stars from rival producers, or emerging talent from rival broadcasters? A few big-name appointments in its first year would really help set the tone.

Chris Curtis is editor of Broadcast