Framestore is a London based creative studio offering visual effects, animation, production and post-production services. Framestore has a dedicated Diversity and Inclusion Board which gathers to discuss issues and solutions across the business.

Framestore believe that higher education or degree-level education is not always necessary to succeed in the creative sector. They recognise these criteria can exclude those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and have removed them from all apprenticeship applications.

The company offers two 18-month apprenticeships through to Level 4 qualifications for assistant technical directors and junior 2D artists. They recognised that apprentices from disadvantaged background may need additional support, and assign each a dedicated mentor throughout the programme. Apprentices are given meaningful work and contributions are acknowledged in movie credits.

Being a member of Access:VFX, a cross-company initiative dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry, has certainly helped attract a more diverse talent pool. Framestore also encourage hiring managers to look out for potential rather than ‘finished products’ when hiring as part of ensuring the programme is more accessible to individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds who may not have had the opportunities to gain experience.