Last week PIPA had the privilege of being invited to do a presentation at the quarterly HR Forum meeting hosted by the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Attendees included HR representatives from The Old Vic, The Young Vic, National Theatre, Bush Theatre and The Barbican.

Not only was it very interesting to witness how this top level of management share experience and learning but it became clear that this is where the change needs to begin. It is HR who are responsible for bringing Equality and Diversity into the workplace which is not an easy task. We understand that raising awareness and asking for change is not enough. We need to support these departments by providing statistics, resources information and testimonials. Once we have all of that we need to collectively put our heads together and find the sustainable, practical solutions that will work for all in this very idiosyncratic business of ours. Freelancers and permanent staff alike must find mutually beneficial working practices for parents working in the sector and all those with particular access needs, if the Industry is to grow and develop as a truly inclusive, creative leader in the global market.