Skillset Plans To Boost Skills And Talent

Skillset has been charged by the Creative Industries Council and UK Government to implement a series of skills and talent-focused initiatives that will help the sector remain a driver of growth for the UK economy.
The Group has been working with employers, training and education providers and industry organisations from throughout the Creative Industries to produce a report identifying the key challenges facing the sector and what needs to be done if it is to fully realise its potential for growth and international competitiveness.
The report was fully endorsed by the Council, which is chaired by Secretaries of State, Vince Cable and Jeremy Hunt and was attended by ministers Ed Vaizey (Culture and the Creative Industries), John Hayes (Skills), and Nick Gibb (Schools), yesterday.
The Council also asked Skillset to lead and coordinate bids on behalf of the industry to raise co-investment funds to help deliver the strategic plan and recommendations agreed yesterday.
The Group, which is chaired by Skillset’s Chief Executive, Dinah Caine, and made up of industry leaders, partner Sector Skills Councils and the CBI, presented 17 recommendations to the Council to boost skills and talent in the Creative Industries.
They identified eight challenges that cut right across the Creative Industries, from industry ownership of investment in skills, to the fusion of creative and technical disciplines in education and the need to cut red tape for businesses employing freelancers.
Dinah Caine said:"We are delighted that Skillset was asked to lead the work of this group, and has now been asked to take the lead in making these recommendations a reality.
"This work will address the key challenges our industries face by fostering the skills and talent they need to remain internationally competitive and a driver of growth in our economy. We now look forward to working with our industries and the Government in realising these ambitions for our sector."
(LB)