Home Social Purpose Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

To create and showcase content by, with and for everyone, connecting and reflecting modern audiences

ITV’s global diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. Content by, with and for everyone, connecting and reflecting modern audiences. Far left box reads - We champion diversity through our mainstream content. Middle box reads - Creating opportunities for people at ITV and across the industry. Far right box reads - we each play our part to create an inclusive culture at ITV. Bottom box reads - Accessibility and disability equity is built into everything we do at ITV, including our programmes, processes and places.

Watch our 2023 Showreel

2024 Highlights

£83m

invested from our Diversity Commissioning Spend between 2022-24

Doubled average spend

with diverse-led companies (2022-24 vs 2021)

Award recognition

BAFTA, Royal Television Society, National Television Awards

47% increase

in Deaf, Disabled or Neurodivergent people agreeing that ITV creates programmes and content that represent
Disabled people (2024 compared to 2021)

Mainstream Content

We want everyone to enjoy content that reflects their experiences, celebrating what makes us different and also what connects us. That’s why ITV launched its Diversity Commissioning Spend (DCS, formerly the Diversity Commissioning Fund), reserving £80 million of the existing commissioning budget over three years (2022-24) to drive change towards racial and disability equity when it comes to whose stories are being told and who is given opportunities in TV production. We have brought the DCS back with another £80 million investment over 2025-2027.

Four promotional images from ITV shows. Top left, Ellie Simmonds stands in front of a blurred background to promote ‘Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family.’ Top right, host Jimmy Akingbola sits on a desk on the set of ‘Sorry, I Didn’t Know’ holding a cue card. Bottom left, Romesh Ranganathan stands next to his mother, Shanthi Ranganathan on the set of ‘Romesh Ranganathan’s Parents’ Evening.’ Bottom right, Big Zuu stands next to Will Poulter jointly holding up a plate of food, as part of his show ‘Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes in 12 Hours.’

Creating Opportunities

We work to create equitable opportunities for people at ITV and across the industry. And we continue to ask every programme maker we commission to embed DEI in their production by applying our Production Principles.

We want to build a diverse pipeline of talent which is why we invest in developing underrepresented creatives. Highlights include our 2022-24 Diversity Development Fund (expanded to £1 million over 2025-27) to help develop people and ideas that can qualify for the Diversity Commission Spend, and Fresh Cuts, which provides opportunities for up-and-coming Black and Disabled filmmakers.

From left to right, Clara Holmes, Stephanie Symington, Richard Walker, Natalie Rose, Courtney Daly and Kathy Daly are sat on stage for a panel for Fresh Cuts.

Inclusive Culture

ITV is for everyone. We want to ensure all voices are represented through equitable hiring and promotion practices and by fostering a culture where everyone can be themselves and receive the support they need to thrive.

AT ITV, we provide the tools, training and guidance to empower colleagues to foster an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and respected. In 2024 we continued to evolve our offer. As well as upskilling our colleagues through development programs, discussion groups and enhanced training, our colleague networks remain at the forefront of delivering a workplace where diversity, equity and inclusion are celebrated and embedded. Our first colleague network launched in 2012, and we now have five: ITV Able, ITV Balance, ITV Embrace, ITV Pride and ITV’s Women’s Network.

Accessibility and Disability Equity

Accessibility forms a critical foundation of our strategy and we have improved the overall accessibility of our brand through the launch of ITVX, including the launch of the world’s first British Sign Language FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel. ITVX now has subtitles on adverts across all platforms and devices.

We’re constantly striving to ensure that our productions and on-screen content are as accessible as possible both for staff and audiences. This includes exploring innovative audio descriptions across programming including Love Island, I’m a Celebrity and Six Nations, and adopting tailored innovations to make the sets of upcoming shows such as Code of Silence more accessible for diverse cast and crew. ITV is an active member of the TV Access Project (TAP), a joint initiative created by ten of the UK’s main broadcasters and streamers. We are collaborating with the alliance to embed accessibility and achieve full inclusion for Disabled people by 2030.

UK Representation Targets for 2027

Improve representation in ITV’s UK workforce, on-screen and off-screen by the end of 2027.

We take a data-driven approach to our DEI work to identify barriers and underrepresentation, focus our efforts, and enable accountability. We measure progress towards our UK targets to improve representation in ITV’s workforce, on and off-screen. This helps create a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We recognise that systematic change takes time and our current UK workforce representation targets run to the end of 2027.

Go to ITV.com/Inclusion to find out more.

ITV's Representation Targets for 2025. The first heading reads Disability, 12% Deaf, Disabled, Neurodivergent, or with a long-term health condition. The second heading reads Class, 33% from working class backgrounds. The third heading reads Ethnicity, 20% People of Colour at the 'All colleagues' level at ITV. 15% People of Colour at senior levels. The fourth heading readings Gender, 50% Women. The final heading reads LGBTQ+, 7% Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Queer.

Diversity Acceleration Plan 2024

Read the full report on our progress at ITV over the last three years, both on and off-screen and within our own workforce.

Download
Front cover of Diversity Acceleration Report 2024. From left to right: a promotional image for ‘Sorry I didn’t know;’ Ellie Simmonds on stage winning a BAFTA; a promotional image for ‘Romesh Ranganathan’s Parents’ Evening;’ a promotional image for D I Ray and a photo featuring six Fresh Cuts Directors.

Other aims and priorities

Mental

Wellbeing

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Climate

Action

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Futures

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