Skillset shares the secrets of its agenda-setting research and education programmes
19 March 2009
Skillset will share the secrets behind the development of its agenda-setting research programme at the Modern University Research Group Spring Conference in Bristol today.
Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media Industries, has developed a programme of research over the past nine years that has established it as the leading authority on labour market information (LMI) for the Creative Media Industries.
Skillset's LMI not only provides the basis for determining the organisation's policy and steering its interventions in the Creative Media Industries, it has also become an invaluable resource for identifying trends and helping industry determine its future direction.
For example, Skillset's 2009 Employment Census has found that some 5,000 women have left the television industry as opposed to just 750 men. That finding has prompted an industry-wide debate about employment practices and has even prompted former ITV Director of Television, Simon Shaps, to call for an industry-wide response to the issue.
Skillset's executive director of policy and development, Kate O'Connor, said: "Skillset's LMI is not only the most important tool for helping us to determine the skills and training priorities for our sector, it also holds a mirror up to all of the Creative Media Industries and gives them an authoritative assessment of just where they are at, allowing them to make informed decisions about where they should be heading in the future."
Skillset's programme of kite marking those Higher and Further Education Institutions that provide industry assessed and approved training in Creative Media disciplines will also be discussed. The Skillset Tick kite mark is now the UK-wide signifier that a course or an institution - such as the 22 Skillset Media Academies that are spread across the UK - are centres of excellence that provide the most practical, industry-appropriate training and a clear pathway into the industry.
For more information contact:
Skillset press and PR officer Nick Sheridan on 020 713 9854 or nicks@skillset.org
Out-of-hours: 07827 989 330.
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. 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.
- The 22 Skillset Media Academies are: Abertay Skillset Media Academy; Birmingham City University Media Academy; Bournemouth Skillset Screen & Media Academy; Cornwall Skillset Media Academy; Central St Martins College of Art & Design Media Academy; Creative Loop Media Academy; Goldmisths, University of London Skillset Media Academy; Hertfordshire Skillset Media Academy; Liverpool John Moores University Media Academy; Middlesex University Media Academy; Napier University Skillset Media Academy (Partner in Screen Academy); National Film and Television School, A Skillset Screen & Media Academy; North by Southwest: The Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Skillset Media Academy; Northern Ireland Skillset Media Academy; Nottingham Trent University Skillset Media Academy; Ravensbourne; Salford University Skillset Media Academy; Southampton Solent Skillset Media Academy; Yorkshire and Humber Skillset Media Academy; University of Teesside Media Academy; Wales Skillset Media Academy; University of Westminster Media Academy.