All creative industries are to take part in a 拢12m government scheme, launched by Gordon Brown yesterday, which aims to promote "cultural leadership".
Brown, speaking in front of leading creative figures including Arts Council chairman Sir Christopher Frayling, said that inclusion of profit-making companies in the scheme is a first and hopes the move will aid economic growth.
Brown said: "It is not a sideshow but it is right at the centre -- not just of modern culture and a modern society, but of a modern economy."
Advertising has previously been left out of such schemes, with funding going mainly to the not-for-profit sector.
Terry Hunt, chairman of integrated agency EHS Brann, said: "We represent brands and customers and it's important to have a mix of people in your organisation who represent those brands."
While Hunt thinks the government scheme is positive step, he believes it is the education system and the colleges that should be encouraging a greater diversity of people to enter the industry, allowing agencies to pick from the best candidates, regardless of background.
Hunt said: "We already have working relationships with colleges and one would hope that those colleges are doing their jobs of recruiting a diverse range of students."
David Kershaw, chief executive of M&C Saatchi, said that the UK's share of the 拢7bn global advertising spend was in jeopardy if we did not produce more industry leaders from diverse backgrounds.
He said: "We will lose our competitive edge if we don't."
Kershaw said advertising agencies recruited from a very small number of elite universities and art schools and had a pitiful 7% of non-white staff.
Recent figures report that only 4% of staff in the UK's 拢5bn music industry are from ethnic minorities.
Eric Nicoli, chairman of EMI, said he welcomed the government's help and urged other creative firms to take part in the scheme, which includes mentoring and creating networking opportunities for normal overlooked groups.
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