New skills future for Scotland's screen industries
Skillset welcomes new arrangements for skills development in Scotland's screen industries
Skillset has today welcomed Scottish Screen's new strategy for developing the screen industries in Scotland. The new approach will see education, skills and audience development become a higher priority with responsibility for skills development being delegated to Skillset. Skillset will become the lead agency with responsibility for the strategic skills development of Scotland's audio visual industries whilst continuing to work closely with Scottish Screen. All work in this area will continue to be guided by Skillset's Sector Skills Agreement for Scotland, developed by the Scottish Industries Skills Panel.
Donald Emslie, Chief Executive of SMG Television and Chair of the Scottish Industries Skills Panel, said: "I'd like to welcome the new changes Scottish Screen have made. The recognition that Skillset is the lead agency, with responsibility for strategic skills development adds far more clarity to the respective roles of each organisation. This can only benefit skills development for and in our industry. This is a real opportunity to ensure that skills at the heart of our industry's success and I look forward to working closely with Skillset Scotland to ensure our Sector Skills Agreement is delivered fully over the forthcoming years."
Dinah Caine, Skillset's Chief Executive, said: "We are looking forward to a continued partnership with Scottish Screen to deliver our Sector Skills Agreement in Scotland. Over the coming months Skillset will be making some exciting announcements about the new initiatives being launched to address the skills development needs of the vibrant and growing audio visual industries in Scotland."ENDS
Editors notes
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.Sector Skills Agreements (SSA) are a government endorsed initiative to ensure that the education and skills system more closely meets the real needs and demands of industry. Skillset's SSA is across three of its sectors - Film, TV and Interactive Media and has been developed by Skillset in partnership with employers, unions, trade organisations, colleges and universities, funding bodies, qualifications authorities and public agency partners.
3.Scottish Industry Skills Panel membership:
Alasdair Smith, Scotland & Northern Ireland Director - Skillset
Anne Fleck, Education Director, Scotland - Channel 4 Learning
April Chamberlain, Joint Managing Director - The Comedy Unit
Brian Kelly, Training Officer - BECTU
Brian McCormick, Director - Hammerhead Television Facilities Ltd
David Drysdale, Managing Director - Aim-Hi
Di Brown, Head Of Talent Division - BBC Scotland
Dinah Caine, Chief Executive - Skillset
Donald Emslie, Chief Executive, Television - SMG plc (Chair)
Elizabeth Partyka, Managing Director, Network Productions
Fiona Hamill, Creative Industries Cluster, Scottish Enterprise
George Thomson, Managing Director - Lee Lighting
Ken Hay, Chief Executive - Scottish Screen
Malcolm Leick, Executive Director, Nations & Regions - Skillset
Russell Kay, Chief Technology Officer - Visual Science
Sarah Jane Kerr, Head of Pact Scotland
Tony Purcell, Head of Strategy & Marketing - CIVIC
