Skillset Board Expands
20 January 2003
John McCormick, Controller of BBC Scotland, and Mairead Regan, HR Director with UTV Group, have joined Skillset's Board providing increased focus on audio visual skill needs in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Nigel Paine, Head of BBC Training & Development, also joins the now 17 strong Board made up of senior representatives from across the audio visual industries and chaired by Clive Jones, Head of Carlton TV and Joint MD of ITV.
After joining the BBC in 1970, John McCormick worked in educational broadcasting until 1982 when he joined the Scottish Management Board in the newly created post of Secretary and Head of Information. He moved to London in October 1987 as Secretary of the BBC before taking up the position of Controller BBC Scotland in January 1992.
Mairead Regan became Human Resources Director at UTV Group in 1998 after seven years with Northern Ireland Small Business Agency LEDU. Mairead is Chair of the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission's Training Committee and sits on its Women in Focus Group.
Nigel Paine heads up the BBC's Training and Development operation. This is the largest broadcast training provider in the world, encompassing the BBC's training delivery online and face to face in new media, production and personal competence skills. Before the BBC, Nigel ran Science Year, an initiative illustrating the career opportunities on offer to young people in science and technology.
Chair of Skillset's Board Clive Jones welcomed the new appointments saying:
"The wealth of experience and insight these individuals bring to Skillset's Board will increase the impact of Skillset's strategy for making the audio visual industries more competitive through skills in 2003. Scotland and Northern Ireland interests have been given a louder voice through John and Mairead's direct input and their perspectives will prove invaluable in expanding our activities across the UK."
John McCormick said:
"We are at an exciting stage in the development of the media industries in Scotland with promising new and emerging sectors such as interactive and computer games. At this important time it is crucial that we strengthen the skills base in Scotland. I'm looking forward to working with Skillset to put the skills agenda at the top of our list of priorities and to support the talent we have here in Scotland."
Mairead Regan said:
"Skillset already has an established working relationship with the NIFTC and my new position on the Board will hopefully progress their efforts in Northern Ireland even further. I'm pleased to be representing the interests of the media industries in Northern Ireland and giving training the spotlight it deserves."
Nigel Paine said:
"The BBC has a long history of sharing its skills with the industry and working with Skillset to better the success of the industry and I'm happy to be continuing that partnership. Together we will be tackling the skills issues holding our industry back especially those connected to the freelance workforce upon whom all the major players depend."
-ENDS-
For more information please contact the Skillset Press Office:
Eve Ragout 020 7520 5752 / 07968 010 325 eve@skillset.org
Notes to Editor
1. Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries. Audio visual industries in this context means, the Broadcast, Film, Video and Interactive Media Industries. Skillset was the first Sector Skills Council to be licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and by Ministers in the devolved administrations in 2002 to tackle the skills and productivity challenge. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are independent, UK wide organisations developed by groups of influential employers in industry or business sectors of economic or strategic significance. SSCs are employer-led and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the sector.
John McCormick, Controller of BBC Scotland, and Mairead Regan, HR Director with UTV Group, have joined Skillset's Board providing increased focus on audio visual skill needs in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Nigel Paine, Head of BBC Training & Development, also joins the now 17 strong Board made up of senior representatives from across the audio visual industries and chaired by Clive Jones, Head of Carlton TV and Joint MD of ITV.
After joining the BBC in 1970, John McCormick worked in educational broadcasting until 1982 when he joined the Scottish Management Board in the newly created post of Secretary and Head of Information. He moved to London in October 1987 as Secretary of the BBC before taking up the position of Controller BBC Scotland in January 1992.
Mairead Regan became Human Resources Director at UTV Group in 1998 after seven years with Northern Ireland Small Business Agency LEDU. Mairead is Chair of the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission's Training Committee and sits on its Women in Focus Group.
Nigel Paine heads up the BBC's Training and Development operation. This is the largest broadcast training provider in the world, encompassing the BBC's training delivery online and face to face in new media, production and personal competence skills. Before the BBC, Nigel ran Science Year, an initiative illustrating the career opportunities on offer to young people in science and technology.
Chair of Skillset's Board Clive Jones welcomed the new appointments saying:
"The wealth of experience and insight these individuals bring to Skillset's Board will increase the impact of Skillset's strategy for making the audio visual industries more competitive through skills in 2003. Scotland and Northern Ireland interests have been given a louder voice through John and Mairead's direct input and their perspectives will prove invaluable in expanding our activities across the UK."
John McCormick said:
"We are at an exciting stage in the development of the media industries in Scotland with promising new and emerging sectors such as interactive and computer games. At this important time it is crucial that we strengthen the skills base in Scotland. I'm looking forward to working with Skillset to put the skills agenda at the top of our list of priorities and to support the talent we have here in Scotland."
Mairead Regan said:
"Skillset already has an established working relationship with the NIFTC and my new position on the Board will hopefully progress their efforts in Northern Ireland even further. I'm pleased to be representing the interests of the media industries in Northern Ireland and giving training the spotlight it deserves."
Nigel Paine said:
"The BBC has a long history of sharing its skills with the industry and working with Skillset to better the success of the industry and I'm happy to be continuing that partnership. Together we will be tackling the skills issues holding our industry back especially those connected to the freelance workforce upon whom all the major players depend."
-ENDS-
For more information please contact the Skillset Press Office:
Eve Ragout 020 7520 5752 / 07968 010 325 eve@skillset.org
Notes to Editor
1. Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries. Audio visual industries in this context means, the Broadcast, Film, Video and Interactive Media Industries. Skillset was the first Sector Skills Council to be licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and by Ministers in the devolved administrations in 2002 to tackle the skills and productivity challenge. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are independent, UK wide organisations developed by groups of influential employers in industry or business sectors of economic or strategic significance. SSCs are employer-led and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the sector.
