Defining the creative media industries
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for Creative Media and works to raise skills levels in every sector of industry within its remit.
Skillset subdivides the creative media industries into ten sectors:
- animation;
- computer games;
- facilities (which includes post production, studio and equipment hire, special physical effects, outside broadcast, processing laboratories, transmission, manufacture of AV equipment and other services for film and TV);
- film;
- interactive media;
- other content creation (pop promos, corporate and commercials production);
- photo imaging;
- publishing (books, journals, magazines, newspapers, directories and databases, news agencies, and electronic information services);
- radio; and
- television.
Most of these sectors have their own outputs and specialist areas of work. Others supply specialist services to support or supplement the work of other sectors. All sectors have their own unique skills and specialisms, and therefore their own unique requirements for skills and training, but there is now increasing movement of freelancers between related sectors.
Skillset works with each of these sectors separately, and in combination, to raise skill levels to meet the needs of the creative media industries as a whole.
For each sector, Skillset collects information on the size and make-up of the workforce, and develops standards that define the specific job areas and job roles involved. We work with industry practitioners to develop qualifications that meet industry needs, collect information on training and funding currently available, and supply information, advice and guidance to new entrants, freelancers and companies to give them the tools they need to develop their skills.
