Advertising diversity census begins

The ‘All In’ census, which opened on Wednesday and runs until 19th March, aims to record the make-up of the advertising industry’s workforce to act as a benchmark for progress in increasing diversity.

Kantar is running the survey on behalf of the Advertising Association (AA), the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) and Isba, all of whom founded The Inclusion Group in 2020 to tackle a lack of diversity in the advertising industry.

The results of the census will be used to inform an action plan to be launched this summer on how greater inclusivity in advertising will be achieved.

A number of organisations including Asda, British Airways, Channel 4, Dentsu, Facebook, Google, GSK, Havas, NatWest, Omnicom Media, ITV, Sky Media, Publicis Groupe, P&GUK, Specsavers, Spotify, TikTok, Tui and WPP are encouraging eligible staff to take part.

Sharon Lloyd Barnes, commercial director at the AA and member of the Inclusion Working Group, said: “The response to All In has been incredible. It reflects the industry’s commitment to inclusion and diversity and an understanding that we need to work together to create the inclusive workplace we all want.”

Bobi Carley, head of media and diversity and inclusion lead at Isba, said: “This is an opportunity for everyone in the industry to have their voice heard and for everybody to aid shift the pace of change.”

Leila Siddiqi, associate director, diversity, at the IPA, said: “For the first time we will have data on certain strands in the diversity and inclusion spectrum which we don’t have much data around currently – such as disabilities, sexual orientation and social mobility.”