for Everyone Diversity Strategy 2017-2020 Welcome clients demand it. There is We started with a group-wide a compelling commercial survey to establish who we imperative as well as a moral are right now and to forge a one to reflect the world we greater understanding of our live in. If we don’t, we die. diversity. Now we’re planning actions to build on our In immediate response to strengths and find solutions Brexit, the Trump presidency to address our weaknesses. and the xenophobic hate that We’re setting targets for has again found a platform, all new commissions on we’ve launched Argonon and off-screen using the for Everyone, a group-wide Commissioning Diversity campaign to find, support Guidelines. Diversity is critically and nurture a diverse team important to Argonon – and across Argonon. Vintage Revival It’s my commitment for us to me personally. Confidently (HGTV) (MTV) be a leading example among Leopard USA Remedy Productions and resolutely we combine As a group, we’ve made media groups, working exceptional creative and progress on diversity and My Brilliant collaboratively with others social mobility, but there’s Brain (National in the industry to make our entrepreneurial talent Geographic) from all backgrounds, still a wealth of talent to be Windfall Films teams more diverse and regardless of race, gender, tapped and a lot more to be produce content that truly age, sexuality, religion or done. Our campaign strongly reflects the world we now disability. Our rich mix is supports Project Diamond live in. I need your help to what makes us great – to help determine if the TV do this. Together, we can and indeed who we are. industry truly reflects the make a difference. I’m Our very DNA is diverse. UK population. It also draws looking forward to the on initiatives at , journey with you. Argonon has a long history the BBC and elsewhere. of finding and nurturing As part of the initiative, we’re James Burstall, diverse talent on and off launching several schemes Chief Executive Officer screen. We have been to open the group further to Argonon signed up to the Diversity the very best talent from all Pledge for many years. backgrounds, and to include Now with extreme politics diversity in everything we Contents emerging across the planet do. We’ll be looking for threatening our plurality and more talented presenters, 4 Argonon for Everyone: An overview openness, it is ever more writers, producers, directors, urgent to commit further and executive producers, script 6 What we’ve achieved act upon supporting and editors, researchers and 8 Our new strategy and action plan nurturing a mixed, diverse skilled technicians – in fact ecology. Our audiences and diverse talent at every level. Eve (CBBC) Leopard Drama 14 Where does all this lead?

2 Argonon for Everyone Argonon for everyone 3 Argonon for Everyone: An overview

Argonon already has a As a group of companies social class, personality, diverse representation in Argonon wants to ensure language, accent and so on. the workplace and we are that diversity and inclusion It also includes the personal proud of that. However is embedded in our culture – characteristics that are despite our best efforts and see that translating into protected by the Equality and in common with the our processes and decision Act 2010 – age, disability, rest of the media industry, making. Diversity and gender, marriage and civil we haven’t nurtured inclusion should naturally partnership, pregnancy enough talent with be reflected in our ways of and maternity, race, disabilities or Black, Asian working, decision making religion and belief, sex and other ethnic minorities. and recruitment processes. and sexual orientation. Although we already By raising awareness of have a strong female diversity our aim is to see Argonon celebrates the representation in our an accurate representation fact that we already have Executive team, we would of our local communities a workforce that represents like to further increase in the workplace. a diverse range of voices their representation. from a variety of communities What is diversity? and backgrounds. Diversity includes everyone and we believe that Argonon As a company Argonon is is for everyone! So therefore, further committed to fostering diversity will always be at the equality and diversity by heart of everything we do. ensuring that more people from under-represented At Argonon At Argonon we understand groups will feature in both that everyone is unique. We our workforce and our we understand recognise that we all have content on-screen. individual differences – both that everyone visible and non-visible. That is unique Race & Intelligence: could be the differences of An Englishman Science’s Last Taboo our personal characteristics, In New York (Channel 4) (ITV) Leopard Windfall Films cultural background, Drama

4 Argonon for Everyone What we’ve Tourettes: Let Me Entertain You (BBC Three) achieved Leopard Films UK Argonon’s diversity survey, % of our current % of our workforce % of Argonon staff Creative Access Our challenge which was launched in 16 workforce are from 54are women. 4disclosed a disability. Since June 2014, Argonon Alma La Marr, September 2016, gave us a Black, Asian or ethnic has worked in partnership First Assistant a valuable insight into the minority background. % of our workforce % of our workforce with Creative Access to Accountant, make-up of Argonon’s 13 is currently lesbian, 18 disclosed that their give nine graduate interns Leopard USA existing staff. As well as % of Argonon’s bisexual, gay or transgender household received income from Black, Asian and The very nature of the showing us where we 29current executive – already above the national support at some point during minority ethnic backgrounds word diversity can make are already doing well team are women. average target. their school years. the opportunity for a paid one uncomfortable. The it also told us there is placement with various truth is, until we choose 75 more work to be done. Argonon % received free companies within the group. to create environments by age 57 19 school meals during Some of our Creative in the workplace, Here are some of the The survey their school years. Access graduates have education, government survey’s key headlines. painted a since secured contracts with etc that challenge our The results reflect the revealing % disclosed that their picture of the 23 24 the company. We are fully viewpoints on inclusion 16 parents/guardians numbers of Argonon age range of 41 committed to offering further instead of diversity, employees who responded Argonon’s didn’t complete a university placements to interns from we deceive ourselves Number of employees 1 1 to the survey... workforce. -18 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ degree course or equivalent a BAME background that we operate in a Age groups such as BA, BSc or higher. at Argonon in the future. diversified climate.

6 Argonon for Everyone Argonon for Everyone 7 Wah! Wah! Girls Leopard Films Our new strategy and action plan

Argonon has set a major The following are the Eve (CBBC) commitment to include activities we’ll be focusing Leopard Drama diversity in everything on that will have the biggest we do. The Argonon for overall impact... Everyone campaign puts diversity at the heart of all In-house our decisions across the staff diversity group, at every level, on Objective To provide and off-screen and across transparent targets about all our activities. our aims for the diversity of our employees that The campaign includes are measurable and several initiatives that will accountable. open the group up to the How We take an all- very best talent from all encompassing approach support diversity within our backgrounds and further to diversity that includes group, Argonon for Everyone include diversity in everything all aspects of people’s was launched 1 September we do. Argonon is committed differences, with a focus on 2016. Everyone in the group to reporting annually on imbalances within known was invited to complete our diversity goals and groups. As part of our a diversity monitoring their impact. commitment to nurture and survey and the results were analysed to determine the Diversity targets 2020 current level of diversity. Our campaign Our ambition is for employee diversity to reach or exceed the UK We recognise the need to average. Some categories have differing estimates of the national address low levels of BAME will open average (particularly around disability). In these areas, we have and disability representation set our own targets. at all levels and a low female Argonon to new BAME Female/Male Disability LGBT representation at Executive Staff now 16% 54%/45% 4% 13% level. The table on the left talent from all Exec now 24% 29%/71% 6% 29% explains our individual UK by 2020 20% 50%/50% 6% 6% targets for 2020. backgrounds When 2016 until 2020.

8 Argonon for Everyone Matthew Bourne Swan Lake Diamond diversity (Sky Arts) monitoring Diversity is Leopard Films Objective Working in our DNA collaboratively with Creative Jazz Gowans, MD and Diversity Network and UK Creative Director, broadcasters to deliver and Transparent TV create a high awareness Whether it’s finding diverse of, and commitment to, off-screen talent or telling the effective collection of stories from sections of diversity data within the the community that are company using Diamond. rarely heard, diversity is How Diamond (Diversity in our DNA. Putting it at Analysing Monitoring Data) is the centre organically and the system that will credibly instinctively is the only reveal the diversity of people way to effect any real and making and appearing meaningful change. on British TV. Each of the companies within our group champions will also need Diamond monitoring system, will identify a Diamond to explain why diversity which will give an indication champion who will complete matters to the industry and of change over time both on- the required training. need to understand the data and off-screen. This individual will ensure protection issues involved. When 2017 and ongoing. everyone in their company When 2016 and ongoing. is familiar with Diamond Specialist and the requirements for all Commissioning recruitment programme contributors to diversity of staff with provide data. They will check guidelines disabilities that everyone understands Objective To ensure that Objective Increase the where to find online support every new commissioned number of candidates with and information. Diamond programme in every genre disclosed disabilities who are works towards increasing interviewed for job vacancies. diverse talent participation How We aim to increase both on and off-screen. the number of specialist How Actively to start disability agencies (such as using the Commissioning Scope) and head-hunters Diversity Guidelines set to increase the number and by UK broadcasters and calibre of candidates with PACT. Our aim is to achieve disabilities who apply for Our aim is to diversity targets on all new vacancies within the group. achieve diversity commissions both on and We will also improve data off-screen, with multiple capture, to get a better targets both on options available in each understanding of the main category. The performance areas of improvement need What’s The against these guidelines in the recruitment process. and off-screen Facts (ITV2) Transparent TV will be measured by the When 2017 and ongoing.

Argonon for Everyone 11 our commitment to diversity The Dream House Social mobility (ABC) Argonon recruitment to our employment agency International Objective Increase the and head-hunter suppliers number of candidates and formalise how they work who identify themselves with us to deliver this. as coming from a socially- While reviewing our preferred disadvantaged background. arrangements and terms and How With the Social conditions with our suppliers Mobility Foundation a in 2017, we will be asking UK charity supporting them to demonstrate how academically able students their candidate attraction who come from lower- strategies will help us to income backgrounds into deliver on our diversity university and professions. goals. We will also expect We will consult with the our suppliers to comply Social Mobility Foundation with the relevant industry on the most effective way diversity standards. to introduce this initiative When 2017 and ongoing. to increase the numbers of people from socially Executive and disadvantaged backgrounds board diversity group is fully delivered, Celebrity working in the media. review process Fifteen To One and is creating the desired When 2017 and ongoing. Objective To report and (Channel 4) Remedy Productions review progress against outcomes within the group. Head-hunter key diversity goals by the When 2016 and ongoing. diversity Argonon Executive team commitment and Board. Diversity reporting Objective To see a How Quarterly Executive substantial increase in and Board-level focus to Objective To report the diversity of candidates ensure that commitment annually on our diversity proposed by head-hunters. to nurture and support goals and the impact of our diversity initiatives. How We will communicate diversity within the Argonon How To ensure we continue to demonstrate transparency Apprenticeships and accountability for our We’re at Argonon objectives and remain Arrie Dingley, IT focused on the right areas committed Gaining an apprenticeship with of diversity, we are Argonon through Tech City Stars committed to formally report to reporting on has been a great springboard. on our diversity goals. our goals and My first weeks have been the When October 2017 and best of my life! I’ve already learnt annually thereafter. our progress so much in such a short space of time and I love working in such annually a buzzing creative environment.

12 Argonon for Everyone Big Dance (Channel 4) Where Leopard Films UK does all this lead?

By 2020, Argonon as of our strength, its not only a group want to have our company’s identity but reached the point where also our tradition. We look everyone who works here forward to working with you can truly celebrate and to achieve our goals. embrace diversity. We want to foster a working Our 2020 targets environment where every % of staff to be employee can be confident 20Black, Asian and that they are valued Ethnic Minorities. for their differences – whatever they are. % group-wide disability 6representation. When we launched the Argonon for Everyone % female campaign we committed to 50representation show leadership in diversity in the Executive team. and to have a diverse representation at every level, Diverse thinking diversity is to think about both on and off-screen. David Chikwe, it from the inception of an Blacklisted Films idea. To be prepared to make We will remain committed to To paraphrase a quote from the argument for its value all our activities outlined in BBC’s Black Is The New Black, despite the obstacles that this booklet. Beyond this we ‘everyone has talent, not arise across the casting Argonon would like to see that these everyone has opportunity’. process. And to challenge changes continue to drive Thinking about diversity in your own biases as regards already diversity within the group. all its shades means being diversity and representation. At Argonon we stand for relentless about demanding, Most importantly it’s about sponsor the diversity with vision and creating and sharing the same knowing that the talent is Women In strength, our diversity is not opportunities as those who always out there – you just something that is just on enjoy those privileges already. might have to work that bit Film Awards paper. It’s the manifestation The challenge with on-screen harder to discover it.

14 Argonon for Everyone