A Class Act: Social mobility and the creative industries

From acting in an award-winning film to producing a number one album, getting to the top of the creative industries is a dream for many young people. But access to such careers, both behind the scenes and in front of an audience, is currently far from equal. For young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds in particular, there are major barriers.

At a time of change in the sector, as well as in the wider political landscape, this report is the first by the Sutton Trust to look in detail at access to the creative industries. It includes new analysis of Labour Force Survey (LFS) and Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA) data on social mobility within creative higher education courses, alongside looking at the educational backgrounds of elite and ‘high-profile’ figures in television, film and music.