In April of 2022, we canvassed for survey responses across the cinema exhibition industry, looking to hear from professionals, freelancers, volunteers and anyone who helps audiences access cinema in a public space. This report gives an overview of the results from that survey, which provide a snapshot of who is working in film exhibition, what needs to change, and what skills and training the sector requires to develop.
This type of data had not been collected for over a decade and, with 602 responses, this is the most comprehensive survey ever undertaken of the UK film exhibition sector.
The updated survey below shows some new findings based on data from the 2021 census, which became available in 2022 and 2023.
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. We hope we will honour your investment of time by advocating for change that makes a difference to everyone’s ability to work in and enjoy the cinema.
If you’d like to discuss these results further, please contact us at: info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk
Key Findings
- The number of jobs is heavily weighted towards London and the South East (36%).
- Our industry does not reflect the ethnic diversity of the UK, especially as the largest proportion of respondents are from London and the South East (89% of respondents were white, compared with 86% of the UK working age population and 60% of the London population).
- Over half the sector (56%) come from a more privileged background.
- 40% of people had undertaken unpaid work experience at some point in their career.
- A higher proportion of people identified as having a health condition, impairment or learning difference than general UK working population. A majority of those who identified as disabled identified as having a mental health problem.
- Only a very small number of respondents identified as having a mobility impairment, as Deaf or hearing impaired, or Blind or visually impaired. This indicates that barriers to those people participating in the industry still need to be dismantled.
- Although there was small gender pay gap at junior levels, for senior leadership there was an 8% gap between men and women.
- Half of survey respondents have never had professional training.