TV leading light unveils code of practice plans for media interns
24 November 2009
GMTV chair and Skillset chairman Clive Jones will tomorrow (November 25) set out plans to make graduate internships in the Creative Media Industries as fair and open as possible.
He will unveil new code of practice plans, drawn up by Skillset in collaboration Creative & Cultural Skills, Arts Council England and Skillfast-UK, at a Universities UK (UUK) conference.
Plans include:
- Time limiting work experience placements to no more than 160 hours;
- Paying graduate internships at least the National Minimum Wage;
- Advertising graduate internships schemes, which should last six months, openly.
Skillset chair Mr Jones said: "For too long getting into the highly competitive media world has often been defined by who, and not what, you know.
"It is high time that employers signed up to a code of practice to make highly sought after graduate internships, work experience and traineeships completely fair and open. An oversupply of graduates has also resulted in a culture of low and unpaid internships, which must be stamped out."
Professor Geoffrey Crossick, Warden of Goldsmiths, University of London, said: "For graduates leaving the education system, entering the world of work is often a challenging and daunting step - particularly in highly competitive areas like the media. Producing these clear guidelines is a very helpful step forward, which will help to make this transition into the world of world easier for many graduates. I urge as many employers as possible to embrace them."
Comments on the code of practice are invited until December 3 2009. More information can be found at Skillset Graduate Code. Comments can be sent to julietr@skillset.org.
Mr Jones will be a panel speaker at the all-day UUK conference - Creating a Higher Vision: the HE contribution to the Creative Economy - taking place at Woburn House, Tavistock Square, London.
For more information please contact:
Skillset press and PR manager, Jennifer Walters on 0207 713 9854 or jenniferw@skillset.org.
Skillset press and PR officer, Nick Sheridan on 020 713 9854 or nicks@skillset.org.
For out-of-hours queries please call 07827 989 330.
For Universities UK conference enquiries please call UUK senior press officer, Gareth Morgan on 020 7419 5407.
Notes to Editors:
Skillset
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. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. They are independent, UK-wide organisations, are employer-led, and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.
Creative & Cultural Skills
Creative & Cultural Skills is the sector skills council for the creative and cultural industries in the UK. Our remit covers the areas of: advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, and performing, literary and visual arts. For more information please visit Creative & Cultural Skills .
Arts Council England
Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people's lives.
As the national development agency for the arts, we support a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts. Arts Council England
Skillfast-UK
Skillfast-UK is the Sector Skills Council for fashion and textiles and the voice of 79,000 employers on skills. Skillfast-UK has three strategic aims, which have been decided upon by its Council of employers, based on research across the sector. These are 1: To use robust labour-market intelligence about the sector to shape government policies and programmes, in order to ensure that employers get a deal that reflects their interests and priorities 2: To hone existing educational courses and qualifications, so that they reflect the skills the industry requires in order to be competitive 3: To develop the infrastructure for technical and craft training, so that employers can improve the skills of their workforce.