Cynicism is not just the enemy of creativity, it kills our capacity for change as organisations and individuals.

In the midst of culture wars and ‘go woke and go broke’ media narratives it is easy to feel despondent about the future of inclusion. In the creative industries where words have not always reflected deeds, when it comes to closing the inclusion gap it is all too easy for cynicism to creep in. While glass ceilings are yet to shatter in advertising, now is the time to reiterate that just one crack is all it takes for the light to get in.

The theme for National Inclusion Week 2024 is ‘Impact Matters’. A focus which underlines the importance of ensuring that DEI in marketing is about more than a one-off panel discussion or marketing moment.

True inclusion is not about a single moment in a year or a heavily branded week of events. It is a 365 day a year endeavour. With that in mind, to mark National Inclusion Week we have picked a selection of the most-read articles from the last 365 days from BITE’s Voices channel.

Voices is an open-source platform to share learnings and insights to help the industry drive inclusion all year round. Open to anyone at any level it is designed to create a space where individuals and organisations can open up and share their inclusion journeys. Reflecting the belief that inclusion is always a work in progress.

Work that demands more than just empty platitudes, but meaningful commitments and investment and attention all year round.

I’m not a hyperactive little boy. I’m a woman with ADHD

In this beautifully written article Jemma Burgess, Creative at McCann London explores her journey with ADHD and why it's important the industry welcomes and supports neurospicy brains. As Jemma writes there are practical ways we can sprinkle some joy into the workplace to support neurodiverse employees. She writes: “This could be as simple as offering noise-cancelling headphones, changing the overhead lighting so it’s not so harsh, or offering people with ADHD private desks in quiet spaces so that they can remain focused. You might see these as small things, but it’s the difference between being overlooked and feeling heard and supported.”

The 'I' word: why inclusion is more than just a trend

In this insightful read Adele Lewis Bridgeman, from the Responsible Resourcing Agency (RRA), takes aim at the destructive ‘go woke and go broke’ media narrative. She passionately argues that it is vital for employers to bring their people back to the heart of their business and think about what makes them an employer of choice.

Where have all the mothers gone?

This must-read article, written with grit and grace by Hollie Fraser, Creative Director and Founder of We Are Shelance, takes aim at advertising’s empathy gap. When only 12.6% of Creative Directors are women now is the time to close the industry’s inclusion gap.

Why the heck shouldn’t we be on TV?

Ruben Reuter, BBC actor and Channel 4 News correspondent, writes with power and precision on the importance of fair representation. Research from not-for-profit Dimensions found that only 25% of the public think society is inclusive of people with learning disabilities or autism.

Read the RISE Trend Report

The brilliant Creative Equals team has long-championed the power of inclusion to the creative industries. The organisation’s flagship event RISE was packed with learnings from brands including P&G and Dr Martens. This free to download trend report includes all the insights from the day. It is designed to support brands and agencies on their journey towards creating more inclusive and equitable work. Work that matters every day, not just National Inclusion Week.