New approach to tackle skills in TV, Film & Interactive Media
SKILLSET today met with HM Government to mark the progress of their Sector Skills Agreements for the television, film and interactive media industries. At a reception at 11 Downing Street, attended by the Chancellor Gordon Brown and Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Ruth Kelly, Skillset unveiled the industry-led agreements which will have lasting implications for tackling skills issues within the sectors.
The new Sector Skills Agreements, strongly endorsed by the Government's Skills White Paper published today, ensure that education and training more closely meets the real needs and demands of industry. They have been developed by Skillset in partnership with employers, unions, trade organisations, colleges and universities, funding bodies, and qualifications authorities.
Dinah Caine OBE, Chief Executive of Skillset, said:
"These agreements have been over a year in the making and they will help ensure that the skills the audio visual industries need, are the skills they will get. They signify a real prioritisation of skills and training by both industry and by Government. This has been an opportunity for the industry to voice what it really wants and needs from the education and training sector to achieve continued growth and success. There is very real evidence that Government and public agency policy is shifting to become more responsive to the needs of business. The process has forged closer working relationships between the two which will help make that a reality. The fact that Skillset are one of the first four Pathfinder Sector Skills Councils to pilot these agreements is also a sign of the value and importance Government places on our industries."
Clive Jones, Chief Executive of ITV News Group and Chair of Skillset, said:
"For too long, employers have complained that the skills they need in their workforce are not being provided by the education and training system. This is a huge opportunity for us to influence and work in partnership with the education system to create a better skilled workforce. Skillset's Sector Skills Agreement lays out, in great detail, exactly what skills are needed, how they should be delivered, and how they will be funded - including the investment industry is prepared to make. We are committed to ensuring this partnership continues so that our industry has the skilled workforce it needs to boost productivity and profitability. It's a formidable task, but one which will fundamentally change our approach to skills delivery."
Skillset also welcomed the publication of the Skills White Paper which strongly endorses the role of Sector Skills Councils and Sector Skills Agreements and represents a major shift towards delivering a demand-led education and skills system, where the needs of industry drives the supply of knowledge and skills.
The Skills White Paper today outlined the following measures:
· Strengthening the importance of Sector Skills Agreements ;
· Reinforcing the role of SSCs in developing the vocational curriculum and associated qualifications (announced in the 14-19 WP, but now extended to 14+ at all levels);
· Introducing the notion of sector workforce plans by SSCs (partially announced in the Home Office migration WP);
· Introducing Sector-based 'Skills Academies';
· Provide a potential role in the employer brokerage services and National Employer Training Programme (announced in the Treasury pre-budget report);
· Introducing a 'level 3 pilot' into National Employer Training Pilot, and the potential for channeling mainstream Learning and Skills Council budgets through employers.
. For more information on individual agreements for TV, film and interactive media visit www.skillset.org.
-ENDS-
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 covering Broadcast, Film, Video, Interactive Media and Photo Imaging. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. 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.
2.Sector Skills Agreements are co-ordinated and brokered by Sector Skills Councils. In addition to Skillset, three other Sector Skills Councils have drawn up the first Sector Skills Agreements. They are :SEMTA (Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies technologies); e-skills UK (IT, telecoms and contact centres); and Construction Skills. The first Sector Skills Agreements are initially for England, but Agreements will shortly be launched in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The new Sector Skills Agreements, strongly endorsed by the Government's Skills White Paper published today, ensure that education and training more closely meets the real needs and demands of industry. They have been developed by Skillset in partnership with employers, unions, trade organisations, colleges and universities, funding bodies, and qualifications authorities.
Dinah Caine OBE, Chief Executive of Skillset, said:
"These agreements have been over a year in the making and they will help ensure that the skills the audio visual industries need, are the skills they will get. They signify a real prioritisation of skills and training by both industry and by Government. This has been an opportunity for the industry to voice what it really wants and needs from the education and training sector to achieve continued growth and success. There is very real evidence that Government and public agency policy is shifting to become more responsive to the needs of business. The process has forged closer working relationships between the two which will help make that a reality. The fact that Skillset are one of the first four Pathfinder Sector Skills Councils to pilot these agreements is also a sign of the value and importance Government places on our industries."
Clive Jones, Chief Executive of ITV News Group and Chair of Skillset, said:
"For too long, employers have complained that the skills they need in their workforce are not being provided by the education and training system. This is a huge opportunity for us to influence and work in partnership with the education system to create a better skilled workforce. Skillset's Sector Skills Agreement lays out, in great detail, exactly what skills are needed, how they should be delivered, and how they will be funded - including the investment industry is prepared to make. We are committed to ensuring this partnership continues so that our industry has the skilled workforce it needs to boost productivity and profitability. It's a formidable task, but one which will fundamentally change our approach to skills delivery."
Skillset also welcomed the publication of the Skills White Paper which strongly endorses the role of Sector Skills Councils and Sector Skills Agreements and represents a major shift towards delivering a demand-led education and skills system, where the needs of industry drives the supply of knowledge and skills.
The Skills White Paper today outlined the following measures:
· Strengthening the importance of Sector Skills Agreements ;
· Reinforcing the role of SSCs in developing the vocational curriculum and associated qualifications (announced in the 14-19 WP, but now extended to 14+ at all levels);
· Introducing the notion of sector workforce plans by SSCs (partially announced in the Home Office migration WP);
· Introducing Sector-based 'Skills Academies';
· Provide a potential role in the employer brokerage services and National Employer Training Programme (announced in the Treasury pre-budget report);
· Introducing a 'level 3 pilot' into National Employer Training Pilot, and the potential for channeling mainstream Learning and Skills Council budgets through employers.
. For more information on individual agreements for TV, film and interactive media visit www.skillset.org.
-ENDS-
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 covering Broadcast, Film, Video, Interactive Media and Photo Imaging. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. 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.
2.Sector Skills Agreements are co-ordinated and brokered by Sector Skills Councils. In addition to Skillset, three other Sector Skills Councils have drawn up the first Sector Skills Agreements. They are :SEMTA (Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies technologies); e-skills UK (IT, telecoms and contact centres); and Construction Skills. The first Sector Skills Agreements are initially for England, but Agreements will shortly be launched in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
