Supporting development of skills is an important part of any business development programme. Currently there is a variety of approaches to business support from public agencies across the Nations.

Throughout the UK the vast majority of companies in this sector are micro-enterprises; 50% have between 2 to 4 employees and a further 27% have 5 - 10 people; only 4% of companies have more than 50 people and just 0.05% employ more than 250 people.

Skillset is working closely with the public sector partners across the UK to inform and influence the development and delivery of business solutions which are appropriately contextualised for the creative media businesses.

A key area of our activity is focusing on management and leadership. Although a very high proportion of the industry's workforce is educated to degree level and above, few have been exposed to formal training in management and leadership. Over 20% of all those who declared training needs in our sector, they cited management and leadership and business skills as an issue.

Skillset is ensuring that our Skillset Academy Network has embedded business skills within their undergraduate and postgraduate provision. In addition, Skillset is working with public and education partners to contextualise generic management and leadership programmes to assist the people in our industries.

Skillset, Focus Point, 21 Caledonian Road, London, N1 9GB. Tel: 020 7713 9800