A Bigger Future - The UK Film Skills Strategy
A Bigger Future is a complete training and education strategy for the UK film industry. It is born out of over 12 months of research, consultation and deliberation, involving the whole industry. It acknowledges the size of the industry, the wide range of skills that are required and the inherent lack of a normal industrial infrastructure, and sets out a realistic training strategy to meet these needs.
Film is unique. It is able to communicate both the culture of a whole country, as well as an individual’s point of view. It has profound abilities as an entertainment medium to impact upon people and their attitudes and views.
The UK film industry has the capacity to enjoy greater success. Film is not only a mature but a growing industry. In 2003 the worldwide film industry was worth £42.3 billion and it is growing by 6.3% a year. In 2007 it is forecast that consumers will spend £54 billion watching films in the cinema and at home. We benefit from a flourishing creative community embracing writers, directors, producers and actors, backed by a tradition of innovation and talent. However, in order to improve our position we must build upon our key strengths.
People are our primary asset. Our ability to sink or swim depends to a large extent on the quality of the individuals involved. And their effectiveness depends largely on the value of the training and education they receive throughout their careers. A Bigger Future responds to the aspirations of those wanting to enter the industry, to those in further and higher education on the brink of entry and also those in the industry who throughout their working life expect and need career development and growth.
We need a lifetime training programme. For decades, the skills support available to those working in the UK film industry has been sporadic and fragmented. What opportunities did exist have often been poorly communicated and delivered by a myriad of uncoordinated training providers.
There is a real lack of diversity. Regrettably, nepotism and contacts, rather than open selection and aptitude have been key recruitment criteria across the film workforce. By ensuring equality of access to all the schemes implemented under A Bigger Future, we can give our industry the breadth of skills and experiences needed to make UK films internationally competitive and profitable, and bring the culture of the UK to the global community.
A Bigger Future has the potential to transform our industry. With the implementation of this strategy, the UK will lead the world in film training. No other national film industry has set in place such a comprehensive skills strategy. The impact on our competitiveness should be profound.
The strategy is clear. A Bigger Future is an achievable training and skills plan that is demand, not supply-led. It is designed to be flexible in order to meet changing needs and technologies. Crucially, it acknowledges that the UK is part of a global film industry.
The will is there. Much of the funding is already committed. The opportunity now exists for the UK film industry, the Government and our partners in the education and training sectors to make this strategy work. As A Bigger Future is implemented over the next few years it will make a very significant impact on the long-term success and sustainability of our film industry, and its prosperity on the world stage.
A Bigger Future is a joint partnership between Skillset and the UK Film Council.
Download a copy of the full strategy here:
'A Bigger Future' - The UK's film skills strategy
Film is unique. It is able to communicate both the culture of a whole country, as well as an individual’s point of view. It has profound abilities as an entertainment medium to impact upon people and their attitudes and views.
The UK film industry has the capacity to enjoy greater success. Film is not only a mature but a growing industry. In 2003 the worldwide film industry was worth £42.3 billion and it is growing by 6.3% a year. In 2007 it is forecast that consumers will spend £54 billion watching films in the cinema and at home. We benefit from a flourishing creative community embracing writers, directors, producers and actors, backed by a tradition of innovation and talent. However, in order to improve our position we must build upon our key strengths.
People are our primary asset. Our ability to sink or swim depends to a large extent on the quality of the individuals involved. And their effectiveness depends largely on the value of the training and education they receive throughout their careers. A Bigger Future responds to the aspirations of those wanting to enter the industry, to those in further and higher education on the brink of entry and also those in the industry who throughout their working life expect and need career development and growth.
We need a lifetime training programme. For decades, the skills support available to those working in the UK film industry has been sporadic and fragmented. What opportunities did exist have often been poorly communicated and delivered by a myriad of uncoordinated training providers.
There is a real lack of diversity. Regrettably, nepotism and contacts, rather than open selection and aptitude have been key recruitment criteria across the film workforce. By ensuring equality of access to all the schemes implemented under A Bigger Future, we can give our industry the breadth of skills and experiences needed to make UK films internationally competitive and profitable, and bring the culture of the UK to the global community.
A Bigger Future has the potential to transform our industry. With the implementation of this strategy, the UK will lead the world in film training. No other national film industry has set in place such a comprehensive skills strategy. The impact on our competitiveness should be profound.
The strategy is clear. A Bigger Future is an achievable training and skills plan that is demand, not supply-led. It is designed to be flexible in order to meet changing needs and technologies. Crucially, it acknowledges that the UK is part of a global film industry.
The will is there. Much of the funding is already committed. The opportunity now exists for the UK film industry, the Government and our partners in the education and training sectors to make this strategy work. As A Bigger Future is implemented over the next few years it will make a very significant impact on the long-term success and sustainability of our film industry, and its prosperity on the world stage.
A Bigger Future is a joint partnership between Skillset and the UK Film Council.
Download a copy of the full strategy here:
'A Bigger Future' - The UK's film skills strategy
If your computer has the relevant software, click the document icons or document titles to view the relevant document. Right-click (PC) or hold your mouse-button down (Mac) on the document icon/title, you'll be given the option to save the file to disk. If you don't have the necessary software to view the documents, take the above links to download free reader programs.
