Building pathways and breaking down barriers to the Industry.
The digital and creative industry needs talent. But too many talented people still struggle to find a way in.
The traditional routes into our industry like knowing the right people, having the right networks, or living in the right place have nothing to do with potential.
At the same time, the industry is changing rapidly.
New roles are emerging, technology is transforming existing ones and businesses need people with increasingly diverse skills, experiences and perspectives.
The Attract steering groups role is to advise BIMA on how we can create more opportunities and more accessible pathways into the digital and creative industry, connecting talented people with employers and experiences.
The steering group has been active across several initiatives in the last year:
This year we have introduced new initiatives to Digital Day including a parents evening and a new workshop focussed on internet safety.
In May 2026 we launched BIMA Nextgen. A chance for graduates to get access to employers in the industry.
We are still designing a recruitment platform for refugees and people seeking asylum to the UK with digital skills.
Launching in Bristol and Bournemouth late 2026 it’s a chance for hidden talent to enter a competitive process to get industry experience with local employers.
The BIMA Attract Steering Group is chaired by Becky Simms, CEO & Founder at Reflect Digital.
Founder of Reflect Digital with 18+ years' experience delivering real ROI from digital marketing; champions a more human, audience-first approach to SEO and paid search, informed by behavioural economics.
Stuart is Chief for Group Operations & Technology at AND Digital, which he joined as a 10-person start-up; agile advocate since 2004 advising BIMA's Attract Board on technical talent.
PHP and Laravel developer with 10+ years' experience, international conference speaker and diversity-in-tech consultant; founded Larabelles in 2020, a global non-profit community making the PHP and Laravel ecosystem more accessible.
Maksym is Director at Bandera Agency and fractional CMO, helping banks, neobanks and online lenders turn marketing into a measurable revenue engine, cutting acquisition costs and aligning sales and marketing.
Martin is MD and Founding Partner at Bond & Coyne, an employee-owned design and technology agency. He is also co-founder of WonderInc, building AI-enabled platforms that help young people understand skills and careers.
If you’re interested in joining a BIMA Steering Group you can register your interest below. Every quarter we’ll go through all council and steering group applications, so please bear with us when waiting for a reply.