Skillset welcomes BBC White Paper
LONDON: Skillset, Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media Industries, welcomes the emphasis and priority given to skills development in today's publication of the Government's White Paper on BBC Charter renewal. The Government commended the BBC for its support of Skillset and highlighted the pivotal role the BBC has to play in delivering Skillset's Sector Skills Agreement for TV. The White Paper also stated the Government's desire to see the further strategic development of the BBC's training and skills policy for the wider industry and an exemplary contribution to the UK Skills Agenda developed with, and through, Skillset.
Dinah Caine, Chief Executive of Skillset, said:
“We welcome the bold statements of support and commitment for Skillset and its work made by the Government in today's BBC White Paper. Skills and training are vital to the future success of the audio visual industries and the Government has recognised the critical role the BBC has in developing its on workforce and that of the wider industry. We especially welcome an increasing level of investment in freelancers and look forward to a closer, more strategic working relationship with the BBC. In addition, we commend the role that the BBC trust has been given to periodically review, with the wider industry, the BBC's commitment to delivering this new and more challenging skills agenda.”
The White Paper stipulates:
“As we set out in the Green Paper, the Charter and Agreement will provide for the BBC to continue to invest in training on a significant scale. This will be a vital part of the BBC's contribution to quality production. It will need to develop its training strategy in line with the new obligations placed on it by the Charter and Agreement, notably the operation of a WOCC system for independent television production, and the increasing importance of new media to the delivery of its public purposes.” (8.5.1)
“The BBC is the biggest employer in our audio visual industries. In preparing and maintaining a highly-skilled media workforce, therefore, the BBC's training strategy will make a significant contribution to its new public purpose of stimulating creativity. Training in a range of portable skills is crucial if we are to maintain the dynamism of our creative industries. The BBC's contribution will support competitiveness and productivity across the industry and the development of skills across all communities of the UK. Responses to the consultation on the Green Paper demonstrated widespread support for the BBC's role as described.” (8.5.2)
“It will be for the BBC Trust to ensure that the BBC's investment in and strategy for training and skills develops over time to match the needs of the BBC and the wider industry, drawing on periodic expert review as necessary.” (8.5.3)
“In recent years, National Skills Strategies have been developed across the UK in order to sustain a competitive, productive economy, with Sector Skills Councils at their heart. Skillset is the industry-led and Government-licensed, UK-wide Sector Skills Council for the audio visual industries. The Government welcomes the BBC's current commitment to Skillset and wishes to see the further strategic development of the BBC's training and skills policy for the wider industry and an exemplary contribution to the UK's skills agenda developed with and through them. The Government welcomes the BBC's decision to participate in and support the establishment of the new Broadcast Training and Skills Regulator and co-regulatory system in partnership with Ofcom, Skillset and the rest of the broadcast industry, as well as increasing its commitment, through this new structure, to freelance training.” (8.5.4)
“The BBC is one of the founder members of the Media Literacy Task Force, working with the UK Film Council, Channel 4, the British Film Institute and Skillset to co-ordinate industry activity and raise public understanding and awareness of media literacy. One of the key aims of the Task Force, through its new Media Literacy Charter, is to ensure the development of a media literate UK population by providing the significant portfolio of skills, knowledge and understanding needed by every citizen in the 21st Century. This includes:
- Broadening people's experience and understanding of different kinds of media forms and content;
- Helping them develop critical skills in analysing, assessing and developing their own critique of the media;
- Developing creative skills in using media for expression, communication and participation in public debate;
- Drawing on the BBC's unique role in promoting widespread access to new media technologies and resources alongside Ofcom's broad strategy for the development of media literacy across the UK.” (3.2.5)
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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 Creative Media 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.
