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Unveiling a new era for the UK screen industry workforce
The UK screen industry is poised for a monumental transformation. ScreenSkills, the leading body dedicated to honing industry skills, has rolled out an ambitious five-year strategy designed to bolster the country’s robust £13.48 billion ($17.4 billion) screen sector. This forward-thinking blueprint aims to cultivate a resilient and diverse workforce ready to tackle the industry’s evolving demands.
A data-driven approach and strategic partnerships
Adhering to the 2023 recommendations of the Screen Sectors Skills Task Force, ScreenSkills emphasizes a data-driven approach and the cultivation of strategic partnerships with industry giants like the BBC and Channel 4. These alliances are pivotal to addressing the intricacies of industry access and career opportunities.
Five core areas of focus
The strategy zeroes in on five fundamental areas:
- Skills needs identification
- Access to training
- Strategic partnerships
- Equity and diversity initiatives
- Future-proofing the workforce
A significant portion of the strategy is dedicated to advancing emerging technologies and the gaming industry. To this end, ScreenSkills is collaborating with UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) to foster crossover skills between gaming, digital media, and TV.
Regional initiatives in the spotlight
In the West Midlands, ScreenSkills has inaugurated a second year of the Skills Accelerator cluster program in partnership with the BBC and Create Central. Additionally, the BBC is collaborating with ScreenSkills on comprehensive research to better understand industry entry points and career paths, aiming to offer clearer guidance for new talent.
A collaborative blueprint for growth
Dawn Beresford, Director of Talent and Skills at BBC Commissioning, praised the comprehensive blueprint, emphasizing its role in tackling structural issues within the industry. “This strategy gives both ScreenSkills and the wider screen sector a shared blueprint to address access, career opportunities, and reskilling challenges, playing a crucial role in the growth of creative industries,” she noted.
Key strategy elements include expanding the ScreenSkills Training Passport program and establishing regional partnerships, such as with Create Central in the West Midlands. A partnership with Channel 4, involving a comprehensive study conducted by Ampere Analysis, aims to chart the landscape of the UK’s film and TV workforce.
Building a future-ready workforce
Laura Mansfield, CEO of ScreenSkills, highlighted the collaborative nature of the strategy. “This plan is built on partnership and collaboration, uniting industry, stakeholders, and government to craft a workforce that is skilled, agile, adaptable, and resilient for future challenges.”
As ScreenSkills transitions into its new role as the sector’s strategic skills body, plans are underway to streamline its board structure to ensure comprehensive representation across the industry and throughout the UK.
The global competitive edge
Georgia Brown, Chair of the Skills Task Force, underscored the importance of the organization’s transformation. “To remain competitive globally, we must provide a clearer roadmap for skills development and invest in sustainable and structured pathways for our workforce.”
Kevin Blacoe, Head of Partnerships at 4Skills, emphasized the significance of understanding the workforce demographic. “Establishing a clearer picture of our industry’s workforce—who they are, where they are, and what they do—will enable 4Skills and ScreenSkills to make much more meaningful and impactful interventions.”
Support from key industry stakeholders
The initiative has garnered robust support from key industry stakeholders. Harriet Finney, Deputy CEO of BFI, highlighted the strategy’s potential to foster a highly skilled and sustainable workforce that is truly representative and accessible to all.
Lisa Opie, Chair of ScreenSkills, affirmed the organization’s commitment. “This strategy reinforces our commitment to developing a future-ready workforce for the UK screen industries, with governance changes that enable quicker responses to industry needs and growth opportunities.”
By fusing innovative partnerships with a strong focus on emerging technologies and diversity initiatives, ScreenSkills is paving the way for a dynamic and inclusive screen industry future.
Discover more about the evolving landscape of the UK screen sector and the new strategies shaping its future. Share your thoughts and insights on social media and stay tuned for further updates!
