“From the bottom of my heart, I just want to thank you for believing in me and taking a chance on a girl with a dream.”
Divine Vika - Foot In The Door, 2022
OPENING DOORS
TO UNTAPPED
POTENTIAL.
ANDY TAYLOR.
Andy was a pioneer of digital media in the UK and an inspiration and mentor to many who followed in his footsteps. A proud son of Rochdale, Lancashire and the North, he made his way into the media via the University of Nottingham, an early career as a lawyer and then cuttingedge digital teams at Victoria Real, Channel 4 and All3Media.
In 2012, Andy co-founded Little Dot Studios. It is now one of the largest distributors of premium content on YouTube and producer of factual channels, which include the BAFTA award-winning Real Stories. Tragically, Andy died from a brain tumour in December 2020.
Continuing the work Andy started and guided by his values, The Andy Taylor Foundation has been established to create high-impact programmes opening doors to untapped potential.
SOCIAL MOBILITY IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES.
The creative industries have a key role in shaping the political, social and cultural agenda of the UK, yet its leaders are often drawn from a narrow cross-section of society. Television and digital careers are more open than other media sectors but are still dominated by those who attended selective schools (independent and grammar) and a small group of universities, who are twice as likely to succeed in creative occupations.
The creative industries have a key role in shaping the political, social and cultural agenda of the UK, yet its leaders are often drawn from a narrow cross-section of society. Television and digital careers are more open than other media sectors but are still dominated by those who attended selective schools (independent and grammar) and a small group of universities, who are twice as likely to succeed in creative occupations.
IF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES WERE AS SOCIO-ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE AS THE REST OF THE ECONOMY, THERE WOULD BE
263,200
ADDITIONAL WORKING CLASS PEOPLE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED IN THE SECTOR.
Social Mobility in the Creative Economy
Sept 2021
FOOT IN THE DOOR.
Foot In The Door 2022 was designed and delivered with SharpFutures to develop the skills and opportunities for socially and economically diverse young people who live in Greater Manchester and are passionate about a career in the creative industries.
The trainees learnt about different production techniques, digital storytelling, creative ideas generation, writing and pitching. They also developed their communication and teamwork skills through a wide range of workshops and masterclasses. After this initial six week bootcamp they spent a further six weeks developing their creative digital skills on work placements with digital publisher LADbible Group, Lime Pictures (the team behind Channel 4’s Hollyoaks), production company Studio Lambert North (Naked Attraction, The Circle, Gogglebox) and ITV Studios.
All trainees have been invited to join the SharpFutures talent pool and recruitment programme, People On Demand (POD), and they continue to receive mentoring and support from the Andy Taylor Foundation.
Foot In The Door has shown that the creative industries recognise and support our aim to improve access to opportunities in the sector and embrace more diverse voices and talent.
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GRACE BARNES
JUNIOR VIDEO EDITOR AT
LADBIBLE
After completing a course in Media Production in 2019, I struggled to get a job in the industry because I didn’t have any experience. I was thinking about giving up on a career in media because it felt like no one wanted me and then The Andy Taylor Foundation and Foot In The Door came along. It was not a typical course. It was practical and it really helped to be part of a smaller cohort. We got to know the course leaders and masterclass speakers well and it felt very personal. The bootcamp and internship taught us how to actually get a job! It was an environment where we could follow our passions and our dreams to get to where we want to be.
My placement was at LADbible doing video editing. It was great working with others to source a story, collaborate with contributors and edit it to create the narrative and produce the video. During the internship, videos I edited were receiving millions of views and I received great feedback about the speed and quality of my edits. As soon as the internship came to an end, I was offered the role of Junior Video Editor at LADbible and I haven’t looked back!
OUR TEAM.
LARA TAYLOR - CHAIR
Lara leads The Foundation to realise Andy's vision and support young people to achieve their potential in the creative industries.
"Andy cared deeply that all young people should have the opportunity to achieve their goals and reach their potential, just as he had. He was driven to increase diversity in the media and that opportunities should be equitable no matter who you are, whatever your background or stage of your career.
The heart of The Foundation is our network of family, friends and colleagues. Andy knew the key to success in business and life was to connect with people, value everyone and be kind and generous in any small way you can."
JAMES O'BRIEN
TRUSTEE
SELMA TURAJLIC
TRUSTEE
JASON GEORGE
TRUSTEE
SOPHIE HAKES
TRUSTEE
KEVIN GIBBONS
TRUSTEE
DANIEL PORTER-JONES
DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE
FUNDRAISERS.
OUR PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS.
PROGRAMME PARTNER.
PLACEMENT PARTNERS.
LATICS ALL STARS.
With support of £1,000 and above, we will invite you to become a Latics All Star. Huge thanks to the generosity of our founding Latics All Stars.
Aniesa Blore, Robert & Gemma Boardman, Steven Brown, Joe & Mel Conder, Dominic & Collette Cullen, Dwight & Alexia Cupit, Ruth Daniels & Mel Sims, Jean de Fougerolles, John & Emma Downing, Sarah & Tom Foster, Wayne & Tess Garvie, Jason George & Katrina Moran, Kevin & Ngawara Gibbons, Holly Graham, Sarah & Nick Greaves, Sophie & Luke Hakes, Vicky Hartley & David Broomhall, Tom & Emma Hemsley, Paul Hunt & Bea Hunt Montoya, Teun Johnston, Adam Jones, Dan Jones, Billy Macqueen, Robert Marsh, Ben & Michelle McOwen Wilson, Jamie Munro, James & Lucy O’Brien, Caroline & Tim Popham, Jade Raad, Dan Smith & Anna Chalker, Graham Stuart, Lara Taylor, Derek & Viv Taylor, Doug & Wendy Thomson, Selma Turajlic, Katie & Ben Walker, Paul & Gill Whitehead, and all our donors who wish to remain anonymous.
OPERATIONAL SUPPORTERS.
Our work would not be possible without the continued support of our friends in the media industry and other corporate supporters who donate their professional expertise and time. Thank you for your continued support.
Little Dot Studios, All3Media, CrowdFunder, Latham & Watkins, Ocean Outdoor and the very many people and organisations who have supported us with their guidance, expertise and time.