A new collaboration between the UK Film Council and Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the audio-visual industries, will see £50m invested over the next five years in a package of measures to develop the level of expertise and skills of those working in the film industry.
The investment has been made in an attempt to help the UK film industry achieve better worldwide distribution for its films and attract more international film production to the UK. The first-ever audit of the film industry?s workforce and future skills needs, published earlier this year, identified a series of fundamental skill shortages which could jeopardise growth and development of the industry.
The new investment will see the creation of a national network of Screen Academies based at existing educational institutions across the UK, with the National Film and Television School playing a key role in this network. A new film business academy will aim to raise the level of business skills, and the quality of leadership and management at film production, distribution and exhibition companies throughout the UK. An approvals system will be introduced for film courses in higher education to help students identify the courses that will give them the right mix of creative and practical skills to work in the film industry. To help companies in the film industry to take on trainees, and provide work placement, mentoring and work-shadowing opportunities, grants and bursaries will be set up and peripatetic training managers appointed. A ?time bank? of film industry professionals who will give up their time to speak at schools and universities, run training courses, and advise on careers will also be established.