BBC

"Journalism Talent Pool"

The ‘Journalism Talent Pool’ is one example of where the BBC has sought to improve the diversity of its workforce in an area that traditionally has been particularly difficult for black and ethnic minority people to thrive in.  The scheme was designed to attract individuals into the BBC who may not have thought of applying to the organisation and who demonstrate the potential to be a Broadcast Journalist or an Assistant Producer for the BBC.   The scheme was advertised in 2008 via a wide range of sources; on ethnic minority websites, in the press and through databases and networks. The BBC also targeted black and ethnic minority publications and sources, including the Islam Expo, as well as over 300 community groups of a wide range of backgrounds.   The scheme was also promoted internally through the BBC Black and Asian Forum for staff.  
 
All line managers and staff who sit on interview panels are required to have undertaken Fair Selection Training which is available as an e-learning package and via face to face training.  More specifically, the Journalism Talent Pool has considered carefully the effect of diverse selection panels and assessors on the success rate of all diverse groups and therefore the scheme ensures that there are senior black and ethnic minority assessors involved in the assessment, recruitment and selection process.
 
Impact

• From a total of 583 applications received in 2008 117 (20.1%) were from black and minority ethnic applicants. The selection rate for further assessment was 10.3% for black and minority ethnic by comparison to 8.2% for the majority population.
   
• 44 individuals were assessed at an assessment centre of which 20.5% were from a black and/or minority ethnic background.   The selection rate from the assessment centre was 37.1% for black and minority ethnic people by comparison to 66.7% for the majority population.
   
• 6 out of the total 19