UK training body ScreenSkills has launched a new five-year strategy which includes plans to partner with the BBC and industry body Create Central to identify and tackle “regional skills gaps” in the UK.
The ScreenSkills five-year plan was launched this morning and sets out multiple objectives the body will focus on to improve the UK’s film and TV environment and create a more “inclusive and agile workforce.”
In its partnership with the BBC and Create Central, ScreenSkills said it would map skills gaps across the UK and use that research to “inform future training needs in the creative content sector.”
Other headline objectives in the strategy include plans for a new research report co-commissioned by BBC and ScreenSkills to explore entry-level opportunities and barriers to working in the creative industries.
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Aditionally, ScreenSkills has commissioned what it has described as a “comprehensive study of the UK’s film and TV workforce” in collaboration with Channel 4. The body has said the findings will enable them to “target its training efforts more effectively, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed.”
Away from policy, ScreenSkills said it will also establish a new Board reduced from 16 Trustees to “ensuring appropriate skills, and diverse representation of industry interests from across the UK.”
ScreenSkills CEO Laura Mansfield said the strategy was built through “partnership and collaboration, bringing together industry, wider stakeholders, and government to build a workforce skilled for today and agile, adaptable, and resilient for tomorrow’s challenges.”
“We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce where opportunities are accessible to everyone,” she said. “By uniting efforts across sectors and regions, this strategy will address skills gaps, drive innovation, and empower the next generation of creative professionals, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth.”
Harriet Finney, BFI’s Deputy CEO and Executive Director of Corporate & Industry Affairs, added: “An industry-led approach to skills development was a core recommendation of the 2022 BFI Skills Review, and resulted in the BFI bringing together the Screen Sector Skills Taskforce. Today’s announcement sees ScreenSkills refocus their role, build a new strategy based on the Task Force report, and set out a commitment to work closely with industry and partners across the UK. Their commitment to developing a data-driven approach to address skills shortages and improve access to high quality training has huge potential to deliver a highly skilled and sustainable workforce, which is truly representative and accessible to all. We look forward to working closely with Lisa and Laura to support them in delivering on their strategy.”
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