Diversity and inclusion: how we’re doing

Reporting against our inclusion targets using self-identified diversity data from our employees and those receiving funding from the BFI.

We’re committed to being inclusive. In the projects we fund, the work we promote, the people we employ. We monitor and evaluate progress against our inclusion targets to check where we could be doing better and, where necessary, take positive action to achieve better results.

Our figures are derived from the most up-to-date data available. This is self-identified data taken from monitoring forms which are voluntarily completed, so we can’t always guarantee a 100% return rate, albeit we encourage engagement.

BFI Inclusion Targets, which are based on proportionality of the UK’s working age population, have been in place since 2018. They are revised up as we progress and most recently updated in April 2023:

  • 18% for those identifying as disabled*
  • 40% for those identifying as ethnically diverse** (London)
  • 30% for those identifying as ethnically diverse** (outside London)
  • 50% gender (50–50 balance of male and female identifying within the gender binary)
  • 10% for those identifying as LGBTQIA+ (including those identifying outside the gender binary)
  • 39% working class background (new target in April 2023, and won’t be reported against until after March 2024)

*Including those with a longstanding physical or mental condition and those identifying as D/deaf or neurodiverse.

**Those who self-identify their ethnic origin from the following groups on the BFI diversity and inclusion monitoring form: Asian/Asian British, Black/African/Caribbean/Black British, mixed/multiple ethnic groups and other ethnic group.

People we employ

As of March 2022, the BFI employs 640 people. This number includes people on permanent and fixed term contracts.

For the people we employ, this is how we are doing against our inclusion targets:

Year
Those identifying as2020 to 20212019 to 20202018 to 2019
D/deaf and disabled
8.6%
9%
8.6%
Ethnically diverse*
16.7%
16.2%
15.5%
Female and non-binary
55%
53%
53%
LGBTQIA+
13
13.6%
11.7%

*Those who self-identify their ethnic origin from the following groups on the BFI diversity and inclusion monitoring form: Asian/Asian British, Black/African/Caribbean/Black British, mixed/multiple ethnic groups and other ethnic group.

People we fund

For those who we fund, this is how we are doing against out inclusion targets:

Overview of those awarded production funding

Year
Those identifying as2021 to 20222020 to 20212019 to 20202018 to 2019
Female and non-binary
58%
35%
56%
51%
D/deaf and disabled
6%
5%
0%
2%
LGBTQIA+
18%
7%
22%
28%
Ethnically diverse*
26%
21%
28%
16%
Returning to work
2%
2%
3%
0%
Caring responsibility
46%
21%
22%
0%

*Those who self-identify their ethnic origin from the following groups on the BFI diversity and inclusion monitoring form: Asian/Asian British, Black/African/Caribbean/Black British, mixed/multiple ethnic groups and other ethnic group.

Percentages of the self-identified data provided by the writer, producer and director of each funded feature.

Overview of those awarded development funding

Year
Those identifying as2021 to 20222020 to 20212019 to 20202018 to 2019
Female and non-binary
66%
59%
56%
49%
D/deaf and disabled
10%
7%
1%
3%
LGBTQIA+
21%
24%
14%
21%
Ethnically diverse*
39%
36%
20%
19%
Returning to work
0%
2%
4%
0%
Caring responsibility
45%
33%
30%
0%

*Those who self-identify their ethnic origin from the following groups on the BFI diversity and inclusion monitoring form: Asian/Asian British, Black/African/Caribbean/Black British, mixed/multiple ethnic groups and other ethnic group.

Percentages taken from the diversity and inclusion data provided by the writer, producer and director of each funded feature.

Overview of those awarded BFI NETWORK funding

Year
Those identifying as2021 to 20222020 to 20212019 to 2020
Female and non-binary
56%
53%
56%
D/deaf and disabled
16%
14%
9%
LGBTQIA+
26%
20%
18%
Ethnically diverse*
25%
28%
26%
Returning to work
4%
4%
2%
Caring responsibility
22%
32%
25%

Percentages taken from the diversity and inclusion data provided by the writer, producer and director of each funded feature.