ScreenSkills announces a new long-term vision for the Film and TV industry
24 October 2024
ScreenSkills announces a new long-term vision for the Film and TV industry that powers the future growth of the UK creative economy
A new five-year strategy will build a world-leading, inclusive and agile workforce for the UK screen industries
A range of innovative and collaborative partnerships with the BBC, Channel 4 and Create Central form a central pillar to the response
Data-driven in its approach, this is the first time that information and work flow will be collated and collected pan-sector for the benefit of the entire industry
Following the recommendations of the DCMS-commissioned BFI Skills Review and the Screen Sectors Skills Task Force, ScreenSkills transforms its governance as it takes on the role of the sector’s strategic skills body.
Following the recommendations set out by the Screen Sectors Skills Task Force in 2023, ScreenSkills has published its long-term vision that will power the future of the UK screen industries and make a significant contribution to the UK Creative Economy.
Rooted in partnerships and underpinned for the first time by pan-sector data analytics, this new strategy will ensure the creation of a world-leading, inclusive and agile workforce for the UK’s screen industries, estimated to be worth £13.48bn (Source: Screen Business, BFI, December 2021).
"This strategy is built on 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,” commented Laura Mansfield, CEO, ScreenSkills. “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.”
ScreenSkills will play a crucial role in developing a trained and diverse workforce that will help the sector remain competitive globally as it transforms it’s governance and takes on the role of the sector’s strategic skills body.
New partnership with Create Central
In the West Midlands, ScreenSkills is partnering with the BBC and Create Central to support the Skills Accelerator cluster programme. Now entering its second year, the programme is focused on mapping regional skills gaps to guide future training.
Ed Shedd, Chair, Create Central said: “At Create Central, we're committed to growing the West Midlands creative content sector - and that requires a local, skilled workforce. This partnership with ScreenSkills and the BBC is an exciting step forward in our mission to bridge the skills gap in our region’s creative sector. By focusing on granular, data-driven insights into local industry needs, we’re not only supporting current training initiatives but also laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and production-ready skills that will serve the industry well into the future. Together, we're empowering the next generation of creatives in the West Midlands."
Dawn Beresford, Director of Talent and Skills, BBC Commissioning added: “The BBC is delighted to be working with ScreenSkills to develop new, impactful regional collaborations which support and underpin BBC and public sector investment in key, strategic locations for the sector and are excited to see where these conversations lead. The new strategy gives both ScreenSkills and the wider screen sector a shared blueprint to address the structural issues around access to the industry, career opportunities and reskilling, and to play a key role in growing the creative industries.”