Two new ScreenSkills training liaison managers are now coordinating training opportunities in Scotland and Wales and forging stronger collaborations with local production companies and training providers. A similar role is also currently being recruited in Northern Ireland. The introduction of the three new roles has been made possible by increased contributions into the industry led Skills Funds.
The appointments build on ScreenSkills’ core values of supporting and developing talent by investing in people and creating opportunities for the industry’s workforce across the whole of the UK. The aim is to ensure we are building even closer relationships with local productions, the workforce as well as public partners to benefit the whole of the UK screen industry.
Kate Efomi, the new training liaison manager for Scotland, joins ScreenSkills with over 20 years’ experience in development and production across film, television dramas and documentaries. She has worked as a researcher, production manager, script supervisor and producer.
“Before starting in this new role, I was already a huge fan of the meaningful work carried out by ScreenSkills. I’m excited to join such an agile industry-led organisation and work with such passionate and pro-active teams across HETV, film, animation, children’s and unscripted. It’s a real pleasure to be their representative here in Scotland and I am keen to get to know as many professionals, production companies and industry bodies as possible across the whole of Scotland to see how ScreenSkills can build further on the work and support we provide here.”
Glasgow-based Kate sees the support ScreenSkills provides as a key component of Scotland’s active industry: “We are all really pleased with how busy the screen industries are in Scotland and it’s great to see how seriously productions take training, recruitment, retention and career development. In the midst of all the busyness and productivity, investment in our workforce is more crucial than ever. Our heads of production are answering that call brilliantly and ScreenSkills along with a host of other valuable local industry bodies are here to support them in that.”
The new training liaison manager for Wales is Merthyr Tydfil-based Rebecca Meredith whose background is in journalism and media and communication management. “I am excited to have been given the opportunity to use my skills to further promote and increase access to the fantastic opportunities ScreenSkills is offering to our industry in Wales and across the wider UK.”
She has spent her first weeks meeting key organisations to develop future plans and discuss opportunities to collaborate to meet ever increasing skills demand across Wales. “One of my first objectives is to put together industry working groups in Wales, to keep everyone up to speed on how ScreenSkills can help workforce development as well as identify future skills priorities and ideas to drive further growth. I am grateful to all the industry leads working across Wales who have already volunteered to become part of these groups, to help build future collaborations and growth for the industry in Wales. If you would like to contact me to hear more about my plans and how Screenskills can help individuals in screen in Wales please get in touch at Rebecca.meredith@screenskills.com. I look forward to hearing from you.”
Both Kate and Rebecca look forward to forging new connections and working relationships with industry professionals across Scotland and Wales.
“I’d love to hear from anyone who would like to explore how we can potentially work together or would like to know more about how we can help individuals in Scotland grow their careers in screen. I am always on the lookout for industry professionals and local training providers who are keen to share their expertise. I can be reached on kate.efomi@screenskills.com and I look forward to hearing from you!”