EXCLUSIVE: Prime Video, Sky and British broadcasters have backed an initiative to train up crew in hair and make-up for actors from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The Textured Hair & Make-up for Deep Skin-Tones Accelerator course comes from Dandi, an offshoot of TriForce Creative Network, which produces long-running ITV quiz Sorry, I Didn’t Know about Black history.
Courses across the UK will recruit 10 participants across three streams — Elevate, Evolve and Equip — bringing together emerging talent with transferable skills from outside the industry, mid‑career hair and make-up professionals, and existing crew needing upskilling.
The courses will include in-person training, online sessions, industry showcases, paid placements and Dandi support for two years. The initiative is backed by Amazon’s Prime Video Pathway, following its pilot programme in Scotland in 2025, as well as the BBC, Sky, Channel 4, ITV and Screen Alliance North.
The move comes after research found that 71 % of actors from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds still report departments being unable to meet their hair and make-up needs, according to Dandi, which it says “undermines wellbeing, authenticity and production value.” With support from producer trade body Pact, Dandi previously published Hair & Make‑Up Equity Guidelines.
“Make-up and hair are an integral part of the magic of storytelling across film & television,” said Dandi boss Fraser Ayres. “As representation matters and resonates equally on and off-screen: hair & make-up artists’ confidence in our on-set skills, working with all hair textures and skin tones, is key to the important bond of trust between creatives. True confidence in our career trajectories comes from owning our significant role in creating a space, where everyone feels nurtured, seen and heard to freely express ourselves.”