In 2025, The Guardian reported that almost a third of creative leaders were privately educated. Calling the Shots, meanwhile, found that 90% of British film productions from 2003 to 2015 didn’t employ a single woman of colour. One thing is clear: the industry needs to do more to support equity. Amos Eretusi is Found and Managing Director of The Kusp, a not-for-profit social enterprise improving access for under-represented talent in the creative industries. Eretusi will be in conversation with Nahrein Kemp, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lead at ITV, at Aesthetica Film Festival 2025. The pair will discuss how leaders can carve out meaningful change for creatives from ethnical minorities and lower socio-ecomonic backgrounds. We caught up with Eretusi ahead of the festival to chat about diversity in the industry.

A: You’re founder of The Kusp, tell us about the enterprise’s aims?

AE: The Kusp exists to bridge the gap between underrepresented creative talent and industry opportunity. As a social enterprise, our aim is simple – to improve access, contribute to more equitable creative industry that is representative of the world we live in. We do this through talent development experiences, mentorship programmes, and partnerships with brands, agencies and academic institutions that share our vision. We’re helping emerging and existing creatives build the skills, networks and confidence needed to thrive, while helping industry partners meaningfully find and nurture diverse talent in film, TV, advertising and other creative sectors.

A: What motivated you to set up the organisation?

AE: It started from personal experience. Coming into the advertising world as a civil engineering graduate, I quickly saw how few people looked like me in creative spaces and how isolating that could feel. Many talented people from similar backgrounds to myself were struggling to find their way into the industry or were leaving because they didn’t feel seen or supported. I wanted to change that, even if it was in a small way. To build something that didn’t just open doors, but equipped people to walk through them with confidence. I also wanted it to be inclusive of different personalities – curated for introverts, accessible for extroverts.

A: What does true equity in the creative sector look like – and how far are we from it?

AE: True equity for me is authentic, and looks like access without assimilation or agenda. Talent from every background should have the freedom to bring their full selves to their creative work without feeling the pressure to shrink. It starts with hiring more diverse people but it doesn’t stop there; it’s about building structures that allow them to thrive and progress once they’re in. We’ve made progress but more consistent steps need to be taken. Representation of Black and Global Majority, working-class, neurodivergent, and disabled creatives still requires improvement – but I’m hopeful that creative hiring can shift from familiarity to meritocracy.

A: How do we measure success when it comes to inclusion?

AE: Success can be measured tangibly and intangibly. For us, success looks like seeing creatives gaining new jobs, more consistent and paid opportunities, or simply more belief and confidence in their career potential. It’s seeing a mentee go from being unsure about their place in the industry to leading a campaign, or an employer shifting how they recruit and support talent. Tracking this insight and ensuring that the impact is sustained, is a good measure of success. 

A: Have you noticed any change since you began working in the space?

AE: Although there’s been a shift in awareness and activity amongsts major brands, studios or organisations, figuring out how to do better in this area – to which we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with; we have still witnesssed fatigue and reluctance creeping in – especially around funding cuts and the uncertainty AI brings to creative jobs. Regardless, the new generation of creatives are fearless – they’re redefining the industry on their own terms, and that gives me hope. The creative sector is evolving, and I believe that our job at The Kusp is to help guide those through this period, as best we can, with purpose and care.

---

Words: Emma Jacob & Amos Eretusi

---

Driving Change on Screen: ITV and Kusp on Diversity in Film & TV is at York Theatre Royal Studio on Wednesday 5 November | 15:00 – 16:00

Book Your Tickets: asff.co.uk/tickets/

---