At Creative Bridges, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are at the core of our mission of building diverse and sustainable futures in the creative economy. The UK’s creative industries benefit from a plurality of voices and different experiences and perspectives, yet access to research and creative careers remains uneven. Our aim is to change that.
Drawing on our experience with Collaborative Doctoral Awards (CDAs), which attract applicants from more varied educational and professional backgrounds than traditional PhD routes, Creative Bridges is designed to open new pathways into doctoral study. Our proactive EDI Action Plan seeks to increase participation among groups historically underrepresented in UK postgraduate research – including Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic groups, disabled, LGBTQ+, and working-class, first-generation and low-income students.
Each partner university brings deep expertise in advancing equity and inclusion. The University of Leeds’ pioneering PGR Diversity Team, one of the few of its kind in UK higher education, will underpin the scheme’s activities. This team offers targeted support for minoritised doctoral researchers and their mentors, helping to ensure every student can thrive academically and personally.
Our approach to inclusion runs through every stage of the doctoral journey. In recruitment, we will adopt contextual admissions and transparent selection processes that recognise potential beyond academic achievement alone. We are also offering ring-fenced studentships for applicants from minoritised ethnic backgrounds, complemented by research placements and internships to help prospective students build confidence and skills before applying.
Once on the programme, Creative Bridges students will benefit from inclusive working practices that recognise the diverse circumstances of postgraduate researchers.
Dedicated EDI and Accessibility Support Funds will help ensure equitable access to research and training opportunities, while pastoral support – including mentoring, peer networks and a buddy scheme – will help foster belonging. Both universities provide extensive mental health and wellbeing services, including tailored support for neurodiverse, trans, pregnant and caring researchers.
Supervision is another area where EDI is actively embedded. Supervisory teams will be diverse and balanced in terms of gender, ethnicity and career stage, with all supervisors undertaking ‘Equity in Doctoral Supervision’ training. Our partnership builds on the University of Leeds’ strategic investment in race and media research, ensuring that students benefit from working within a genuinely inclusive intellectual environment.
Finally, Creative Bridges is committed to long-term impact. We will evaluate and share our learning across the sector through an Advance HE Report on embedding EDI in doctoral recruitment and training. In doing so, we aim not only to support individual researchers but also to help transform the culture of postgraduate research in the creative industries — ensuring that the next generation of scholars, artists and innovators truly reflects the diversity of the society we serve.