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BBC reduces UK gender pay gap

September 26, 2019

BBC Studios has published its UK Gender Pay Gap Report. It reveals that the company reduced the average – specifically the median – difference between the pay of men and women to 10.3 per cent, down from 14.1 per cent in 2018.

The reduced figure compares with the national average of 17.9 per cent, and is published as the company completes the roll-out of a series of measures designed to increase fairness and transparency in its pay structures.

These included promoting flexible approaches to work, providing confidence and impact training for women and training managers to be better aware of unconscious biases. The business has also increased the amount of paid leave during paternity and shared parental leave, and a focus on ensuring BBC Studios’ leadership development programme has a diverse composition for the pipeline of future leadership vacancies.

Tim Davie, CEO for BBC Studios said: “I am pleased to report solid progress on reducing our UK gender pay gap, and these figures show some success towards tackling a vitally important issue, but we still have further to go. We are not complacent about the need for greater change, and will continue to work hard on improving our representation at all levels of the business, with a particular focus on the most senior leadership career bands, in order to reduce our pay gaps year-on-year.”

BBC Studios has now increased numbers of women in leadership from 49.2 per cent to 52.1 per cent year-on-year. The business has also recently implemented a Career Path Framework alongside a new pay and grading structure already in place in the public service side of the BBC. This is designed to give staff greater transparency about their position in the business alongside others carrying out similar roles and their opportunities for career progression.

The business continues to voluntarily report on pay gaps for other measures, with those for LGBTQ+ and part-time staff close to zero. Gaps for Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and disabled staff are at 10.2 per cent and 8.6 per cent respectively and will continue to be addressed as part of the company’s overall diversity and inclusion programme.

Also within the report, an action plan for the forthcoming year highlights specific initiatives designed to boost the diversity of the business. These including working with agencies like Mama Youth and Creative Access to bring under-represented talent into the industry through apprenticeships and trainee schemes, and a refreshed school outreach programme, offering training and insight to young adults in schools local to BBC Studios’ offices in Shepherd’s Bush. BBC Studios will also be hosting a week-long international Diversity Summit [for the second year running].

 

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