Skillset Promotes Creative Talent Across the North of England
Skillset announced today the launch of the Skillset North Industry Skills Panel, which aims to encourage and support the development of creative talent in the North West, Yorkshire and the North East regions. The creation of the panel, which is comprised of high-profile delegates from the TV, Radio, Games and Interactive Media sectors, comes in response to the industries' requirement for a skilled, flexible, creative and enterprising workforce in the North of England.
Dinah Caine, CEO, Skillset, said, "The creative industries in the North often struggle to retain local skilled talent, as there is a misconception that you need to be in the South East to further your career. However, with numerous revitalisation programmes luring big creative names to the North, such as the BBC's move to Salford's mediacity:uk, and a host of successful Northern media companies providing thousands of local jobs, there is a huge opportunity to develop and maintain a local skills base. The Skillset North Industry Skills Panel will work with employers, educational facilities, trade unions and regional development agencies at a local level to promote investment in skills, talent and company development."
The Panel will have a key role in promoting best practice and efficiencies across the North and within the three regions, encouraging forward-looking, demand-led actions that enhance the creativity and competitiveness of the sector.
The Panel comprises 20 representatives from audio visual companies across the three regions of the North, including major media players such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Lime Pictures, Sony Studios, EMAP Radio and the Press Association. There will also be several observers from key agencies including North West Vision & Media, Screen Yorkshire, Northern Film & Media and One North East.
The panel will provide a high level industry voice to provide a strong forward vision of where the industry is going, and the kinds of skills and talent that will be required to ensure its success. It will inform policy development on skills investment and provision for the audio visual industries across the North, and will advise on regional needs across the areas of business and freelance support, provision in education, careers advice and information and the reform of qualifications and frameworks.
Tom Gutteridge, MD, Standing Stone, is the Chair of the Skillset North Industry Skills Panel. "I am delighted to be involved in this initiative to promote creativity and talent in the North of England. Having moved back to the North to open a new production company I understand the challenges of finding and retaining local staff. The Skillset North Industry Skills Panel has the potential to make a real difference to the creativity and prosperity of the region."
28th April 2008
Notes to Editors:
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. Our aim is to support the improvements to the productivity of our industry to ensure that it remains globally competitive. We do this by influencing and leading; developing skills, training and education policy; and through opening up the industries to the UK's pool of diverse talent.