ScreenSkills CEO Laura Mansfield responds to the publication of the Creative Industries Sector Plan and Industrial Strategy White Paper.
The Creative Industries Sector Plan confirms increased funding in Film and TV, which is recognised as a high growth area of the UK’s creative economy. This is welcome news for an industry known globally for its talent, innovation and economic contribution. Addressing skills shortages and reducing skills gaps in technical roles across the UK is critical and will only be achieved if the right policy framework is in place.
We are particularly pleased to see the Government confirm it will support industry to develop skills passports. As the screen sector’s skills body, ScreenSkills is ready and able to deliver this goal. Earlier this month ScreenSkills launched phase two of the industry-approved Training Passport following a successful 10-month pilot. The Passport is in collaboration with BBC Studios, ITV Studios and Sky, with the support of Pact and brings new partners, including BBC Public Service, for the second phase.
The decision to allow businesses to fund short courses in England via the Growth and Skills Levy is something we have been calling for. To drive sustained economic sector growth, the levy must be flexible, allowing employers to use their levy contributions to address a broad range of training needs.
We look forward to working with DCMS and the Skills England led Creative Sector Skills Forum to build comprehensive evidence on skills needs. Our 2025 Sizing Up report has already highlighted the critical role of data to provide in-depth insights to underpin policy development. We continue to partner with industry to gain more detailed insights to support workforce planning, including the Creative Industries Council’s sectoral skills audits.
With over 190,000 people working in the screen industries - many of them freelancers - the creation of a Creative Freelance Champion is another important positive recognition. We look forward to working together to ensure opportunities for training and development are available for the existing workforce, enabling them to upskill and reskill throughout their careers.
The sector plan provides a long-term vision for those that want to build their future careers in the screen sector and wider creative industries. Delivering a curriculum to help ensure that all young people – regardless of their background – can access the skills, experiences and opportunities they need is vital.
In addition, as the lead delivery partner for Discover! Creative Careers, we welcome plans to deliver a refreshed UK-wide £9m creative career service.
We support the direction of Government policy to enable the screen sector, and wider creative industries, to realise their full growth potential and look forward to working together ahead of the next Autumn Budget and King’s Speech.