Encompass Project - for people from black and minority ethnic communities
The CILIP Encompass project (formerly known as the Compass project) encourages people from black and minority ethnic communities to join and progress within the library and information profession. Our membership statistics show that only 3.4% of our members are from black or minority ethnic groups compared to 7.9% in the general UK population.
The Encompass project includes:
• A positive action trainee scheme
• The development of a toolkit to support employers wishing to introduce a positive action scheme. This will be based on a resource developed by the Museums Association for their Diversify Scheme. The toolkit will be launched in 2009.
• A work-place development scheme for existing library and information staff from black and minority ethnic groups wanting to gain CILIP’s qualification for para-professional staff – ACLIP (Certified Affiliate of CILIP). This scheme is still in development.
Positive action trainee scheme
CILIP’s positive action trainee scheme is for people from black and minority ethnic communities wishing to join the library and information profession. It will be run in partnership with PATH National Ltd, a skills development agency focusing on career development opportunities for black and minority ethnic groups. It will be piloted in London during 2008/9 before being rolled out across the UK.
CILIP is establishing a project steering group to take the project forward. Later in 2008 discussions will be opened with employers in London to establish the 20 trainee places planned for the London pilot. Trainees will be appointed in 2009. They will start a part-time postgraduate course in library and information studies in September of that year and work towards gaining CILIP’s main professional award – MCLIP (Chartered Member of CILIP).
Over a five year period CILIP hopes to support 100 trainees working in a wide variety of library and information organisations across the UK.
More information on how the trainee scheme will work
Press release on positive action trainee scheme
Further reading
Positive action proposal document
(Word document 106 KB)
This document sets out in detail the work that PATH National Ltd will undertake in partnership with CILIP to set up a Pan London pilot programme. It includes the business case, costs, and benefits to employers and trainees. It also sets out the delivery action plan for the scheme.
Options for a positive action trainee scheme - original report
(PDF, 223 K)
This is Tribal's report to CILIP. Tribal were commissioned to examine the options for introducing a work based development scheme for people from black and minority ethnic communities.