Three year skills plan to deliver world class workforce for Creative Media Industries
24 October 2008
A new three-year agreement between Government and Creative Media Industry employers to beat skills shortages and build a world-class workforce was announced today.
The agreement sets aside £11m over three years which will be drawn from the existing pool of funding for the Government's flagship training service, Train to Gain, helping learners to get the training and qualifications they need to succeed, despite the tougher economic climate.
The Sector Compact, agreed by the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS), the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for Creative Media, will help deliver more highly skilled and qualified workers in one of the fastest growing sectors in England.
"The Government values the important strategic contribution the Creative Media Industries make to our national life, and is committed to working closely with the sector to help it attract, train and retain quality staff," Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills John Denham said.
"This agreement with Skillset will ensure that employers have access to flexible, world-class training tailored to the specific needs of their business, delivered when and where they need it," he said.
Skillset Chief Executive, Dinah Caine, applauded the agreement. She said it was a much needed boost to employers in creative media who want to access support for training.
"Train to Gain is the Government's billion dollar flagship programme for funding skills training.
"The problem is, in an industry where 99.05 per cent of the workforce already has a Level 2 qualification; employers in our sectors have been unable to access this support.
"This Compact brings together skills eligible for Train to Gain support with support for higher level qualifications. Additional subsidised training will be available for creative media employers who want to train their staff through Train to Gain to achieve level 4 qualifications, including management courses, and by accessing support currently available elsewhere for higher level courses," she said.
Mark Haysom, Chief Executive, the Learning and Skills Council commented:
"Now more than ever training is essential if companies are to weather the current economic climate. Through this new partnership with Skillset, we will be able to help even more employers get the advice and training to address critical skills needs in the creative media industries sector through Train to Gain, which helps support businesses in tougher economic times."
The creative industries as a whole contribute over £60 billion a year or 7.3 per cent of the UK's Gross Value Added (GVA), the vast majority of which is accounted for by Skillset's footprint. Over the past decade, the creative sector has grown at twice the rate of the economy and is well placed for continued growth as demand for creative content grows.
Through the Sector Compact, Skillset will focus the support and funding available through Train to Gain to support the priorities set out in the industry's Sector Skills Agreement, including meeting challenging targets for training new entrants and qualifying existing workers. Across England the Compact will deliver
- 3,500 employer engagements, workplace assessments, and skills broker referrals;
- 3,300 management and leadership achievements;
- 2,450 learners at Level 2 and Level 3; and,
- 870 apprenticeship starts, including 520 higher level apprenticeships.
In addition, the funding agreement will support more employers to make the Skills Pledge, a nationally recognised commitment to help employees gain new skills at work. This agreement will set a target of 3,500 pledges over three years.
The Compact also commits DIUS, the LSC and Skillset to working closely on:
- Developing a partnership with the National Apprenticeship Service; and,
- Developing more qualifications that meets sector needs.
Ends
Notes for Editors:
1 Skillset
Skillset is the SSC for Creative Media which comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging and publishing. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. They are independent, UK-wide organisations, are employer-led, and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.
2 Train to Gain
Government investment in Train to Gain will rise to over £1 billion by 2010-11 supporting over 800,000 learners to improve their skills and gain new qualifications.
Managed by the Learning and Skills Council, Train to Gain is the government's flagship service to support employers in England, of all sizes and in all sectors, to improve the skills of their employees, unlock talent and drive improved business performance. An important element of Train to Gain is the skills brokerage which offers free impartial advice, and helps find the best training solution from high quality and responsive training providers to meet business needs.
To find out more about how Train to Gain can help, employers should call 0800 015 55 45 or visit Train to Gain
3 Sector Compacts
Sector compacts are non-contractual agreements between the DIUS, the LSC and SSCs. Compacts provide SSCs with access to additional resource to work with the LSC and the Train to Gain service to encourage employers to take advantage of Apprenticeships and the Train to Gain offer and make the Skills Pledge. To date, compacts have been announced with the construction, hospitality, process, science and technology and justice sectors. For more information see: Latest information on Train to Gain
For all media enquiries
Contact
Nick Gowland
020 7713 9812 / 07598 160 802
nickg@skillset.org