The Screen Academy Network: Your Questions Answered
Skillset's research into how the film industry viewed the existing training and education provision in the UK pointed to one thing above all others: a good deal of confusion about where the best courses were, who was producing the best students and how the industry could get involved.
The solution was to implement a scheme that would recognise the best of what is already out there and establish a network of centres of excellence.
Dinah Caine, Chief Executive of Skillset, said:
“Skillset’s vision in bringing the Screen Academy Network together was based on extensive dialogue with the film industry and consultation with FE and HE. It was a truly collaborative process. Our vision was never a fixed, one-size-fits-all approach. Innovation and breadth of provision was encouraged so as to fulfil the broad spectrum of creative skills development needs of the industry. The network represents the very best the UK has to offer in film education and training. It’s a pioneering initiative which strengthens and deepens much needed partnerships between industry and the education system and is a real cause for celebration.”
Sir Howard Newby, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) and member of the Screen Academy Panel, said:
“HEFCE are delighted to be working with Skillset by supporting these centres of excellence. We are also happy to have concluded our first formal agreement with a sector skills council as part of the sector skills agreement process."
1. What is the network and what will it do?
2. What is the Film Business Academy and what will it do?
3. Why does the film industry need the network?
4. What does being part of the network mean for institutions?
5. What does the network mean for other media related courses?
6. Where does the money come from?
7. The network is part of A Bigger Future, what is that?
8. Who is the Film Skills Strategy Committee?
9. Why is training important for the UK film industry?
10. Why is the industry focusing on education and skills now? Isn't there a downturn?
11. How will individuals benefit from the network?
12. Will attending an Academy guarantee an individual will get a job?
13. How was the network selected?
14.Who is the Screen Academy Panel?
15. Who is the Film Business Academy Panel?
16. How will Skillset ensure continued quality?
17. Four out of the seven Academies are located in London and the South East, why is this?
18. Why is there no Screen Academy in Northern Ireland?
19. When will the network be up and running?
20. A Bigger Future is part of Skillset's Sector Skills Agreement, what is that?
- What is the network and what will it do?
The network is a group of institutions (some are single institutions others are a consortia of institutions) that have been recognised as existing centres of excellence in film education in the UK. It will provide the highest standard of vocationally orientated education, training and development, endorsed as relevant by the UK film industry, at a further, higher and postgraduate level.
The network is made up of:
- Bournemouth Screen Academy
- Screen Academy at LCC & EIM
- Screen Academy Scotland
- Screen Academy Wales
- Screen Academy at the London Film School.
- Screen Academy at the National Film & Television School.
- Film Business Academy at Cass Business School.
The network provides courses covering the full range of jobs in the industry from craft and technical grades through to management and design. The courses range from City & Guilds and Higher Education Diplomas through to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. All of the Screen Academies and the Film Business Academy will also offer short courses and development support to existing professionals in the industry.
They will work together, with the industry, to share best practice, facilities, and resources; and pool information and ideas. They will also expand upon the work they are already doing by developing new courses and collective projects in response to emerging needs. Other collective initiatives will include summer schools, work placements, master classes, bursaries, online learning resources and a talent scout programme.
The institutions within the network will also have exclusive use of the Skillset 100, a database resource of 100 top industry professionals committed to sharing their knowledge and expertise through master classes, workshops and guest lectures.
- What is the Film Business Academy and what will it do?
The Film Business Academy will produce the creative business leaders; entrepreneurs and innovators that will help UK film build an aggressively competitive industry in the face of an increasingly tough global market.
Focusing on distribution; exhibition; marketing and sales, it is the first ever dedicated film business centre in the UK and will unite the film industry, city finance and world-class business education. It will create the first full and part time specialist Masters courses in film business and a customised executive film MBA. In addition, it will design modular film electives for inclusion in standard MBA programmes to encourage business talent from other industries to bring their expertise to film.
The Film Business Academy will establish the Centre for Film Business Research. It will also offer a full portfolio of short courses and flexible online learning programmes.
- Why does the film industry need the network?
The network will not increase the number of people coming into the film industry overall. It is needed to ensure that those people already intent on a career in film get the grounding needed for the industry to build an aggressively competitive business in an increasingly tough global market.
Skillset has identified a small number of institutions which are already offering the highest quality training and skills – but these centres of excellence need support to continue to serve the industries needs effectively.
The network gives the industry a focus for its limited resources and support helping to facilitate industry involvement.
The institutions that make up the network were chosen, in part, on the basis of their ability to compliment each other across the full range of films creative development and skills needs. By working together they will avoid duplication of effort and investment and offer a more joined up approach.
The network highlights clear pathways and more structured entry routes into film careers and offers bursaries and scholarships enabling the industry to get the benefit from a wider and more diverse pool of the brightest and the best talent, some of who may not ordinarily be able to afford to attend.
- What does being part of the network mean for institutions?
They will be part of a family of film skills providers benefiting from mutual support and shared influence and the opportunity to build on excellence.
The Screen Academies will share £4.3m of funding over two years from the Skillset Film Skills Fund. The Film Business Academy will receive £1m funding over two years.
As a direct result of their status as part of the network, institutions will also be able to leverage additional funding support from the Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE) which has just concluded its first formal agreement with a Sector Skills Council as part of Skillset’s Sector Skills Agreement (please see Q20). In Scotland the SHEFC (the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council) alongside the Scottish Executive is continuing positive discussions with Skillset to explore future funding streams. In Wales the HEFCW (Higher Education Funding Council Wales) has confirmed substantial funding and is currently considering further arrangements.
Being recognised as centres of excellence enhances their reputations within the industry and will help to attract students and leverage wider investment.
- What does the network mean for other media related courses?
The network signposts the best education and skills development in the UK for individuals intent on entering the film workforce. The film industry and Skillset totally support the provision of film studies, media studies and film-related courses which enable graduates to enter the world of work with respected and valuable qualifications of a general nature. These courses contribute to the creation of a more motivated and informed audience for film in the UK. This situation cannot be anything but helpful to both the film industry and society generally. However, the industry and students have been calling for a clearer distinction between purely academic study and provision which has a wider context including a mix of academic and vocational elements designed to prepare people for working in the film industry. The industry needs an identified focus for its limited resources and support, and students could and should have a better understanding of what skills the industry demands and needs when they make life-changing choices about their education.
- Where does the money come from?
All the initiatives under A Bigger Future are funded by the Skillset Film Skills Fund, totalling around £10m a year over 5 years, drawing from two main sources. The first is £6.5m of National Lottery money, channelled via the UK Film Council and the second is the Skills Investment Fund (SIF), a film production levy. UK films contribute 0.5 % of their total production budget up to a maximum of £39,500 to the levy which has raised £3m since its inception in 1999. The levy is currently voluntary unless a production is in receipt of public funding and following a widespread consultation with industry, Skillset is looking at progressing the levy to mandatory status.
- The network is part of A Bigger Future, what is that?
A Bigger Future, the UK Film Skills Strategy covers all the jobs in the film industry across all grades, from development right through to exhibition. One of the key priorities embedded throughout the five year strategy is diversity. Encouraging and delivering a more diverse workforce, both culturally and socially, is fundamental to the industry’s future relevance and education and training is helping to make the industry more accessible to currently under-represented groups.
The joint initiative by Skillset and the UK Film Council, in partnership with the industry, has already provided:
- Continual Professional Development: Over £1m funding has been funnelled into CPD including Film Futures bursaries for the existing workforce to access training in priority areas.
- Company Development: Grants of up to £10,000 have been made for companies in distribution and exhibition to access HR and training services.
- Careers Advisors: 6 industry professionals have been recruited and are now available for face-to-face careers information and guidance sessions.
- Dedicated film website: A one-stop shop for film careers with realistic and industry endorsed information on working in the industry.
- The Skillset Film Trainee Network: a placement based training scheme. Skillset has also funded a variety of other structured new entrants schemes across the UK.
The implementation of all Skillset’s work under A Bigger Future is overseen by the Film Skills Strategy Committee, made up of representatives from across UK film. An expert advisory panel, the Film Education Forum, consisting of representatives from the industry, education institutions, and the media subject associations, was also established to advise on the implementation of FE and HE recommendations in A Bigger Future.
- Who is the Film Skills Strategy Committee?
Comprises: Chair: Iain Smith (Producer Applecross Films); Steve Abbott (Prominent Pictures); Dinah Caine, Kate O’Connor (Skillset); Jo Dunton (Cineguilds); Eric Fellner (Working Title); Susan Finlayson-Sitch (UK Film Council LA); Steve Knibb (Exhibition); Michael O’Sullivan (Paramount Pictures/The Production Guild/Motion Picture Association of America); John McVay (Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television); William Sargent (Framestore/CFC); Martin Spence (BECTU); and Marcia Williams, John Woodward, Robert Jones (UK Film Council).
- Why is training important for the UK film industry?
Global competition in film has intensified in recent years. To attract inward investment and lucrative co-productions, which account for a significant number of films made in the UK, the industry must ensure its workforce has the world beating creative development and skills to help build an aggressively competitive industry.
The UK has a worldwide reputation for technical and craft skills but film is a fast moving business and to maintain that reputation the industry recognises that it must invest in the development of its workforce. There is also a need and desire to enhance that reputation to include the business side of filmmaking - sales; marketing; distribution and exhibition. The network provides comprehensive coverage of all jobs in the industry and the Film Business Academy will help produce the UKs creative entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
Film lacks a normal industrial infrastructure resulting in largely informal recruitment methods and little support and development as peoples careers progress. This has had serious implications on both diversity and the film industries ability to retain talent.
Why is the industry focusing on education and skills now? Isn't there a downturn?
Film is made up of a number of varied sub sectors. Distribution and exhibition, for example, are consistently healthy sectors; production is cyclical and subject to peaks and troughs. By focusing on the development of its workforce the industry is taking a long term view and planning for the future ensuring it is in the best position possible to capitalise on the peaks when they come.How will individuals benefit from the network?
The best film education will be earmarked with an industry endorsement helping talent make an informed choice about the best route for them to follow.The education and training on offer will be directly relevant to the industry giving individuals both media education and practical hands on skills which will better prepare them for the workplace and improve their chances of securing work.
Bursaries and scholarships will be available for individuals, opening up the industry to talent from diverse backgrounds. The close links with the industry will give them access to experienced practitioners. The high standard of training individuals receive will be recognised and valued by the industry as the best available.
Will attending an Academy guarantee an individual will get a job?
There are no guarantees and the establishment of the Academies is not designed to increase the number of people entering the workforce. By signposting the best provision that is already out there and supporting it, Skillset and the industry hopes to reach out to the brightest and the best individuals, already intent on a career in film, and equip them with a portfolio of high standard skills that will help the industry grow and compete.How was the network selected?
After extensive consultation with the industry on the criteria to qualify as a Screen Academy a competitive tender process opened in September 2004. Short listed applicants were visited by the Skillset approvals team and industry practitioners who interviewed staff and students and toured facilities. Recommendations as to which applicants met all the criteria were then made to the Screen Academy Panel, made up of education and industry representatives, who made the final approval.The selection of the Film Business Academy began with presentations by applicants of their proposals followed by an evaluation visit to the strongest candidate. The Film Business Academy Panel then made the final recommendation.
Who is the Screen Academy Panel?
Comprises: Stewart Till (Chair), Lord David Puttnam, Sir Howard Newby (HEFCE), David Way (LSC), Anthony Minghella (Director), Colin Brown (Cinesite), Iain Smith (Producer). Executive representatives: Dinah Caine, Kate O'Connor, Natalie Furnell, Judy Counihan, Helen North (Skillset), John Woodward, Marcia Williams (UKFC)Who is the Film Business Academy Panel?
Comprises: Stewart Till (Chair), Steve Abbott (Prominent features Ltd), Robert Jones (Premiere Fund, UK Film Council), Steve Knibbs (Vue Entertainment), Lord David Puttnam, CBE (Enigma Productions), Angela Morrison (Working Title), Mark Devereux (Olswang), Sir Howard Newby (HEFCE). Executive representatives: Dinah Caine, Kate O'Connor, Natalie Furnell, Janine Marmot, Helen North (Skillset), John Woodward, Marcia Williams (UKFC)How will Skillset ensure continued quality?
The progress of the network will be evaluated at the end of the first year and a full review of membership will take place after 2 years. Skillset will appoint a Screen Academies Manager to facilitate and oversee the network getting up and running and functioning as a partnership. Funding spend by each academy will be monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis.Four out of the seven Academies are located in London and the South East, why is this?
Selection was based on excellence, quality, and the ability and willingness to play a complimentary role within a comprehensive network, designed to cover the many and varied jobs in the industry. There were a high number of applications from the London area, which is the commercial centre of the film industry and consequently where the majority of the workforce is based.Why is there no Screen Academy in Northern Ireland?
Skillset did not receive any applications from institutions located in Northern Ireland.When will the network be up and running?
Member institutions will continue their regular timetable with a new intake of students in September.A Bigger Future is part of Skillset's Sector Skills Agreement, what is that? 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.
