We are inviting Creative Industry employers to an evening of fun, celebration and laughter as we celebrate our successes in promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and be inspired by the work we can do together in the future. Creativity is stifled if everyone is the same, thinks the same, or imagines the same. All businesses could be improved with a diverse workforce!

Diversity and Inclusion is vitally important, especially in a city like London. We want to make sure that what our amazingly vibrant city of London represents is reflected in our workplaces and the art we create. As decent human beings, we all believe that we follow inclusive and diverse practices, and we know you strive to do your best to do so. This celebratory night invites you to share your thoughts and feelings, hear from others, and might give you additional perspectives to look at and think over.

The night will be informative, transparent, and hopefully transformational about what you thought the Greater London Authority to help increase Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. NextGen will support and give you a chance to ask any questions, should you have any.

The event will be hosted by NextGen’s Creative Hub Programme Manager, Shannice McCalla. We will go through the initiatives that are being developed, this will combine a night of drinks, food, fun with information and networking opportunities.

We ask that you come with an open mind and to consider the topics as we share our next steps to support employers working towards an equal, diverse, and inclusive creative industry.

Food and drinks provided.

Venue: Menier Penthouse, Floor 5, 38 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1RU

Nearest tube: 3 minutes walk from London Bridge station

For more background information on the NextGen and GLA partnership keep on reading below.

NextGen Creative Skills Hub x Greater London Authority

The Mayor of London is on a mission to help Londoners access ‘good’ work and skills opportunities and step into sectors they may not necessarily have considered or thought they could be a part of. To help achieve this mission the Greater London Authority have funded a number of 'Hubs' across different sectors including Creative, Digital, and Hospitality.

The hubs incorporate values from the Workforce Integration Network, otherwise known as WIN, to improve pathways for underrepresented and minority groups. NextGen are running the a Creative Skills hub looking to help those looking to get into the games, animation and VFX industry. We are creating industry led, quality sector specific training and will provide pathways and opportunities for Londoners.

Not only is it our mission to create and open spaces for minority and underrepresented groups but we would like employers, companies and studios to be open to actively doing this work.

What is the Workforce Integration Network?

The Workforce Integration Network (WIN) aims to address structural barriers that prevent underrepresented groups from accessing high-quality work opportunities. It helps employers to better adapt their workplace around principles of EDI and intersectionality. This has been done by developing a series of interventions.

NextGen are in turn promoting and identifying suitable employers (organisational size) this opportunity especially as there is a huge lack of diversity within the games, animation & VFX industry.

The interventions are as followed:

WIN Design Labs
Employer Toolkits
Toolkit Implementation Support
Post Design-Lab Support
Research

Working to WIN - Creating a more equal, diverse, and inclusive industry