Skillset Film Training Fund Hits £6 million
November 2008
The Skills Investment Fund (SIF) has reached £6 million, thanks to the contributions from films being produced in the UK. This year has seen contributions from: Quantum of Solace, The Duchess, Easy Virtue, RocknRolla, and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging to name a few.
527 productions have now contributed to the SIF since its launch in 1999. Invested into training initiatives through the Skillset Film Skills Fund, it has helped pay for nearly:
- 300 new entrant production trainees;
- more than 1,000 freelancers or employees have received bursaries so they can access their chosen training;
- and it has enabled Skillset to subsidise the cost of over 6,000 places on training courses, seminars and masterclasses for professionals already working in the industry as part of their continuing professional development
The types of training courses we fund are mostly in areas where freelancers and employees need access to information to keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date in an ever-changing industry.
Bond Producer, Barbara Broccoli said:
"The UK film industry has a worldwide reputation for highly skilled crews. Commercially we benefit greatly from this well deserved reputation and to maintain it we must support the workforce and their continual development. The SIF levy is a vital way of doing that, with contributions being invested in the production talent that helps the UK compete globally."
Kay di Rezze recently completed the Skillset–funded Production Guild's Assistant Production Accountant scheme, which included placements on productions such as The Bourne Ultimatum and Hot Fuzz. She says:
"Getting on a scheme like this was fantastic. They give you so much information on the industry, who does what and what the protocols are. They really show you how things work. I'd been trying to get into the film industry for five or six years. Skillset opened a massive door of opportunity for me."
The Skillset Investment Fund (SIF) is a training levy on theatrical film production which is administered by Skillset, and which funds skills and training initiatives across the film production industry. Following an industry consultation, 2009 will see the levy become mandatory with the establishment of the Film Industry Training Board (FITB).
Acclaimed Producer Iain Smith (Wanted, Children of Men) was appointed Chair of the FITB in February 2008 and is leading the process of moving the SIF from a voluntary to a mandatory levy.
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Notes to the Editor:
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media which comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging and publishing. Jointly funded by industry and government, our job is to help the UK creative media industries have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time, so that our industries remain competitive. For more information visit:
