Skills Accelerator gets ready to go
15 November 2023
In Spring 2023, Create Central launched its Shape the Future roadmap, which set out the region’s missions to turbo-charge the West Midlands creative content and gaming sector, with a focus on business growth, diversity across the workforce and promoting the West Midlands as a global creative hub.
Create Central has delivered major wins since its launch in 2019 to support and build the production ecosystem in the region through landmark partnerships with the BBC, new commissions from Channel 4, Steven Knight’s Digbeth Loc. Studios, The Bond and many more. Our next phase sees a renewed focus on ensuring we have the diverse talent pipeline to provide existing and future productions with local crew and local talent with opportunities to work and build a career here in the West Midlands.
Create Central is now also one of six UK BFI Skills Clusters working together to address the acute skills shortages in the screen sector and to make the sector more accessible and representative. Today we are delighted to announce our delivery partners for our Skills Accelerator programme, with the support of the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, and with additional funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Our Skills Accelerator programme is developed by local industry based on current market-need in the West Midlands, with support from Create Central Members and industry partners like the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, YouTube, Kudos, Shine and many more.
To lead the training programmes we have appointed a fantastic team from across the region to work with industry to coordinate skills and training opportunities for below-the-line production crew in the West Midlands.
We have appointed The West Midlands Combined Universities Consortium, comprising Birmingham City University, University of Wolverhampton and Coventry University, to deliver our course for graduates: Rock Up Ready. Established industry training provider Mission Accomplished in collaboration with BOA will be delivering scripted and unscripted training for new entrants: TV & Film Fusion. Mission Accomplished will also deliver the career development course for potential future leaders and business winners: Step up to Head of Department (HOD).
To ensure these training programmes reach the region’s diverse and underrepresented groups, we are thrilled to be working with Culture Central.
Culture Central has led creative and cultural sector specific initiatives in the region since 2018, with a focus on inclusivity and access, to bring about a more equitable sector and opportunities. It works across practice, programmes, policy, and research to bring about a more equitable creative and cultural sector. Taking on the role of 'critical friend' to offer constructive and actionable reflections for all partners ensuring the voice of those traditionally excluded by the creative and cultural sector is foregrounded, through reviews and recommendations, developing a model of best practice to ensure the sustainability of the approaches and work.
Joining the delivery team to provide supporting events and marketing to make sure our programmes reach the right diverse audience we have appointed HDY Agency and experienced Marketing Consultant Sam Thodhlana.
The three new courses will be launching in the New Year
Rock up Ready is for recent graduates and aims to bridge the skills gap that industry has noted when very recent graduates try to enter the industry.
TV & Film Fusion is also for new entrants but requires no qualifications and will provide participants with the skills to build portfolio careers in both scripted and unscripted.
Step up to Head of Department is about creating a talent pipeline of highly skilled and well-trained crew ready to take on more senior roles within the sector.
For those interested in participating in the Skills Accelerator programme, we will be hosting a launch event in early January in Coventry – follow us on social media to make sure you get the latest news and more information on the launch event.
Create Central and the BFI Skills Clusters initiative remain dedicated to driving diversity and inclusivity in the UK screen industries, and we are excited to take this significant step forward with our selected suppliers.
As we look ahead to the launch of the Skills Accelerator programme in January, we are confident that the combined efforts of Create Central, the BFI, and our partners will lead to a more vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic future for the West Midlands' screen industry.
