ScreenSkills Teams With BBC, Channel 4 on Five-Year Plan to Boost U.K. Screen Industry Workforce

As a seasoned film enthusiast with roots deeply entrenched in the British cinematic landscape, I find the recent announcement by ScreenSkills to be nothing short of exhilarating. Having witnessed the evolution of our beloved industry firsthand, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride and optimism at this strategic move.


The organization responsible for training workers in the United Kingdom’s screen industry, known as ScreenSkills, has revealed a five-year plan designed to foster a strong workforce that can sustain the country’s £13.48 billion ($17.4 billion) screen industry.

The plan of our organization, adhering to guidelines suggested by the Screen Sectors Skills Task Force in 2023, underscores the importance of data-based choices and collaboration with significant players in the industry such as the BBC and Channel 4.

The approach focuses on five key aspects: recognizing skill requirements, providing training opportunities, establishing strategic alliances, promoting equality and diversity, and ensuring workforce resilience for the future. There will be a particular emphasis on advancing technologies and the video game sector, with ScreenSkills teaming up with U.K. Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) to merge skills across gaming, digital media, and television industries.

In the region of West Midlands, ScreenSkills is teaming up with the BBC and Create Central for a Skills Accelerator network project, now moving into its second phase. Simultaneously, the BBC is joining forces with ScreenSkills on research aimed at uncovering more about the entry points within the industry and potential career trajectories.

Dawn Beresford, head of talent and skills at BBC Commissioning, stated: “The new strategy provides a common framework for ScreenSkills and the broader screen sector to tackle the underlying issues related to industry access, career development, and upskilling. This framework also empowers us to significantly contribute to the growth of the creative industries.

Essential aspects of our strategy involve broadening the ScreenSkills Training Passport initiative and forging alliances with local entities such as Create Central in the West Midlands. Additionally, we’ve engaged Ampere Analysis, working alongside Channel 4, to carry out a thorough examination of the U.K.’s film and TV labor force.

Laura Mansfield, the CEO of ScreenSkills, stated that this strategy is based on teamwork and mutual cooperation. It unites industries, various partners, and government bodies to create a workforce that is proficient now and flexible, adaptable, and robust enough to tackle tomorrow’s obstacles,” said Laura Mansfield, CEO of ScreenSkills.

The move comes as ScreenSkills takes on a fresh function as the strategic skills organization for the sector. Their strategy involves simplifying their board setup while ensuring diversity in representation from various sectors of the industry and regions of the U.K.

Georgia Brown, head of the Skills Task Force, underscored the necessity of the group’s evolution, stating that “in order to stay competitive globally, it’s crucial we create a more defined plan for skill advancement and allocate resources towards eco-friendly and systematic career paths for our employees.

By gaining a better understanding of the individuals involved in our industry, specifically their identities, locations, and roles, 4Skills and ScreenSkills can effectively carry on producing more relevant and significant actions,” stated Kevin Blacoe, the head of partnerships at 4Skills.

The British Film Institute (BFI), a significant player in the U.K.’s film and television industry, has shown its approval for this initiative. Harriet Finney, BFI’s deputy CEO, emphasized that this strategy could foster a skilled and sustainable workforce that is both diverse and inclusive, open to everyone.

Lisa Opie, as head of ScreenSkills, stated that the new strategy underscores our dedication to cultivating a workforce prepared for the future in the United Kingdom’s screen industries. She explained that these governance adjustments will empower us to act more swiftly when addressing industry requirements and capitalizing on growth prospects.

Read More

2024-10-24 12:46