ScreenSkills publishes five-year plan to develop UK screen workforce

The strategy has been published in the wake of recommendations set out by the Screen Sectors Skills Task Force in 2023. It includes a range of partnerships with organisations such as the BBC, Channel 4 and Create Central and will be underpinned for the first time by pan-sector data analytics.

ScreenSkills said its ambition was to ensure the creation of a world-leading, inclusive and agile workforce for the UK’s screen industries, estimated to be worth £13.48bn.

The strategy will focus on five core areas: skills needs identification, access to training, strategic partnerships, equity and diversity initiatives, and future-proofing the workforce.

ScreenSkills will forecast future skills needs and communicate its insights to industry and government, ensuring that training aligns with evolving demands.

Initiatives will include expanding the ScreenSkills Training Passport, which standardises training records, to help streamline career progression, as well as commissioning targeted courses to address specific skills gaps.

Partnerships with organisations like the Creative Diversity Network and the Sutton Trust will address socio-economic diversity, while initiatives like Trainee Finder will create pathways into the industry for diverse talent. ScreenSkills will also partner with WorkWise for Screen and Action for Freelancers initiative to seek to improve the working culture for the screen sector’s workforce.

ScreenSkills will also support skills development in emerging technologies. In partnership with UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie), it will focus on building a sustainable talent base for the UK games industry, emphasising the crossover of skills between gaming, digital media, and TV. Additionally, collaboration with UK Screen Alliance will focus on skills development, researching skills gaps, and ensuring transferable skills in VFX and post-production.

“This strategy is built on partnership and collaboration, bringing together industry, wider stakeholders, and government to build a workforce skilled for today and agile, adaptable, and resilient for tomorrow’s challenges. We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce where opportunities are accessible to everyone,” commented Laura Mansfield, CEO, ScreenSkills.

“The transformation of Screen Skills into a more cohesive, data-led, long-term strategic partner to the industry is vital to powering the future of the UK’s creative economies, and the Screen Sectors Skills Task Force supports this new strategy,” said Georgia Brown, Chair of the Skills Task Force.