Diversity and inclusion: how we’re doing

Reporting against our inclusion targets using self-identified diversity data from our employees and those receiving National Lottery 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.

BFI Inclusion Targets, which are based on proportionality of the UK’s working age population, are revised regularly. 

The language we’ve used for inclusion targets since we started reporting reflects best practice at the time and we’ve ensured this data is comparable (where possible).


About the data we collect

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.

Black and Global Majority data

April 2024 to March 2025 is the first year we’ve had geographical data to report on both ‘London’ and ‘Outside London’ for Black and Global Majority targets; before that the statistics are UK-wide. 

Working class data

April 2023 to March 2024 is the first year we reported against our targets for working class.

Caring responsibility data

We do not have targets for those with caring responsibilities or who are returning to work but do collect that data so it is included where available.


People we employ

As of March 2025, the BFI employs 776 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 as2018 to 20192019 to 20202020
to 2021
2021 to 20222022 to 20232023 to 20242024 to 20252024/25 target
Black and Global Majority
15.5%
16.2%
16.7%
19.5%
18.7%
21.4%
20.2%
40% London
 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
30% outside London
Disabled
8.6%
9.0%
8.6%
9.8%
10.3%
10.5%
12.7%
18%
Women (gender binary)
53.0%
53.0%
55.0%
52.6%
55.3%
55%
55%
50%
Sexual identity (other than heterosexual)
11.7%
13.6%
13.0%
19.2%
16.3%
17.1%
10%
10%
Working class
-
-
-
-
-
-
11.3%
39%

 


People funded by the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund

Previously known as the BFI Film Fund, this data shows how we’re doing against our inclusion targets:

People awarded production funding for features or immersive projects

Year
Those identifying as2018 to 20192019 to 20202020 
to 2021
2021 to 20222022 to 20232023 to 20242024 to 20252023/24
target
Black and Global Majority
16%
28%
21%
26%
21%
28%
35%
40% London
 
-
-
-
-
-
-
24%
30% outside London
Disabled
2%
0%
5%
6%
7%
14%
32%
18%
Women (gender binary)
51%
56%
35%
58%
64%
52%
31%
50%
Sexual identity (other than heterosexual)
28%
22%
7%
18%
32%
28%
24%
10%
Working class background
-
-
-
-
-
28%
21%
39%
Caring responsibility
-
22%
21%
46%
36%
55%
58%
-
Returning to work
-
3%
2%
2%
0%
0%
3%
-

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


People awarded feature development funding

Year
Those identifying as2018 to 20192019 to 20202020
to 2021
2021 to 20222022 to 20232023 to 20242024 to 20252023/24
target
Black and Global Majority
19%
20%
36%
39%
30%
38%
58%
40% London
 
-
-
-
-
-
-
34%
30% outside London
Disabled
3%
1%
7%
10%
19%
16%
26%
18%
Women (gender binary)
49%
56%
59%
66%
70%
59%
58%
50%
Sexual identity (other than heterosexual)
21%
14%
24%
21%
12%
25%
35%
10%
Working class background
-
-
-
-
-
13%
34%
39%
Caring responsibility
-
30%
33%
45%
30%
36%
52%
-
Returning to work
-
4%
2%
0%
0%
2%
2%
-

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 in England

Including production funding for shorts, early development feature funding and More Films for Freedom (all supported by BFI National Lottery funding).

Year
Those identifying as2019 to 20202020 
to 2021
2021 to 20222022 to 20232023 to 20242024 to 20252023
target
Black and Global Majority
26%
28%
25%
33%
35%
43%
40% London
 
-
-
-
-
-
41%
30% outside London
Disabled
9%
14%
16%
16%
29%
51%
18%
Women (gender binary)
56%
53%
56%
49%
55%
48%
50%
Sexual identity (other than heterosexual)
18%
20%
26%
28%
33%
46%
10%
Working class background
-
-
-
-
14%
35%
39%
Caring responsibility
25%
32%
22%
23%
23%
27%
-
Returning to work
2%
4%
4%
4%
0%
1%
-

Percentages taken from the diversity and inclusion data provided by the writer, producer and director of each funded short film and early feature development project. Data may additionally include writers, producers and directors provided with financial support for broader professional development activity.

You can find more information about the projects funded by our BFI NETWORK partners on their websites: Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Scotland and Ffilm Cymru Wales.  

For more detailed data see details of who we awarded NETWORK funding to.