ScreenSkills takes a leadership role in developing practical solutions to tackle skills shortages and gaps and to diversify the workforce.
We also work with every level of government, including the nations and regions, local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) and other important organisations to influence the development and implementation of policy on issues such as the Apprenticeship Levy and further/higher education to support the sector.
Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do, aiming to ensure individuals from all backgrounds and across the country have the best possible opportunity to enter the sector and to progress their careers.
Read on for more about our policy work.
The UK's creative industries contribute almost £13 million to the UK economy every hour. New government figures (2020) show the country's successful creative industries contributed £111.7 billion to the UK in 2018, equivalent to £306 million every day. Film and TV alone contributed £20.8 billion.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on the sector with BFI statistics showing that at least £426 million worth of high-end television and film productions were postponed or suspended when social distancing measures followed by lockdown were announced. Even as we begin to emerge from the crisis and productions begin again, there is growing evidence that freelancers, especially from poorer backgrounds, are leaving the industry, so we need to redouble our efforts on diversity and inclusion.
As we emerge from Covid-19 and production levels begin to get back to where they were before the crisis, the skills shortage problem will re-emerge. The industry knows that it needs a stronger pipeline of talent but a series of market failures were inhibiting progress and they will need to be addressed as we move into recovery. We must upskill the workforce while retaining access to the global talent that contributes to the UK's international renown and competitiveness.
What we need is:
Lobbying and working in practical ways with the government to:
Working with partners to deliver practical solutions including:
ScreenSkills is the industry-led body on the screen industries and we are always open to more industry engagement. If you have any thoughts or questions about policy issues, please email our head of policy, Mark Heholt at: mark.heholt@screenskills.com.
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