First Ever National Skills Day for Media Industries
The first ever National Skills Day for the Audio Visual Industries will take place on Thursday 26th May 2005.
Skillset, Broadcast, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, five, Pact and BECTU have joined forces to raise awareness of the fundamental importance of skills, development and career progression to the future of the industry. National Skills Day is an opportunity for the entire industry to focus on skills and highlights the need to continually develop the highly skilled workforce on which the industry depends.
Lord Puttnam of Queensgate CBE said:
“Partnership is the key to the success of National Skills Day. Commitment is essential throughout the industry to really hammer home the message that skills and training are critical to the future development of the audio-visual industries. I am enormously encouraged by the support we have already received for this initiative. Creative and innovative schemes such as Comedy Workshops at the BBC and Bollywood dancing at Channel 4 reflect the talent and diversity of people working in the industry. Now is an ideal time for other organisations to get involved with National Skills Day, to help ensure that the event has the widest possible impact.”
As part of National Skills Day, on the evening of Thursday 26th May the Broadcast Young Talent Awards in association with Skillset will take place at the National Film Theatre. The Awards recognise the best young TV and film production talent. For full details on how to enter visit
www.broadcastnow.co.uk/youngtalentawards
Organisations across the industry are implementing initiatives for National Skills Day such as language awareness sessions, yoga lessons, job swapping & recruiting modern apprentices.
For more information or to request a Planning Pack please contact Jane Saunders, National Skills Day Coordinator
-ENDS-
SKILLSET PRESS OFFICE:
Eve Ragout 020 7520 5752 / 07968 010 325
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.Supporters of National Skills Day
The following organisations have pledged their support to National Skills Day in terms of activities and involvement throughout the coming year:- Royal Television Society, Film Distributor's Association, BAFTA, Guild of Location Managers, British Screen Advisory Council, Women In Film and Television, Writers Guild of Great Britain, IVCA, SMG plc, Guild of Television Cameramen, EM-Media, ASPEC, S4C, BKSTS, Equity, Director's Guild of Great Britain, Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission, Film London, Society of Television Lighting Directors, UTV, The Production Guild of Great Britain, South West Screen, Scottish Screen, Screen South, Screen West Midlands, Screen Yorkshire, Screen South, Media Training North West, Welsh Independent Producers, Institute of Video Technology, National Film and Television School, RDF Media, CRCA, GWR Radio, Virgin Radio, Chrysalis Radio, Scottish Holdings Media, Research Centre for Television and Interactivity, Red Kite Productions, Soho Editors, Picture Canning Company.
3.Quotes from Partners
"Channel 4 is really excited by National Skills Day, as it presents a fantastic opportunity to recognise, across the industry, the importance of skills and talent development in our workforce by generating some really interesting and innovative learning opportunities."
Alec McPhedran, Training and Development Manager, Channel 4
"National Skills Day is long overdue. This industry should share what it has to offer with prospective employees both young and old. It is an exciting industry going through massive change, using a highly skilled and competent workforce. The BBC is in full support of National Skills Day and hopes to play a major role in its implementation."
Nigel Paine, Head Training and Development, BBC
“We are proud to support the work of Skillset. As a broadcaster that relies upon talent, both in the independent production community and in our own employees, we are committed to initiatives that help to develop and nurture skills. National Skills Day gives us a great opportunity to celebrate the value of skills development and to focus upon how we can strive to achieve more in this important area.”
Karen Caddick, Head of Human Resources, five tv“Broadcast is pleased to be behind the launch of National Skills Day and will be providing extensive support and coverage in the next year. There is a clear need for improved skills training across the whole industry and National Skills day will be instrumental in meeting that need.”
Jon Baker, Publishing Director, Broadcast
“The importance of skills to the industry is something Skillset has been campaigning on for over a decade. To us, it is something which pre-occupies us every single day. In jointly developing the concept of National Skills Day we hope to raise the profile and importance of the impact of skills on individual, company and industry performance. It may be one day a year, but it is a day that will lead to many new and innovative approaches to skills development being spawned that we believe will have a lasting impact. “
Gary Townsend, Executive Director Communications & Public Affairs, Skillset
