The BFI is undertaking a major strategic skills review on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The review will be conducted with ScreenSkills as well as other national regional screen agencies, trade bodies unions and leading industry figures.
The UK Skills Review aims to share the best practice and knowledge, to develop long-term solutions to tackle the current and future skills needs of the screen industries. The review is focused on film and high-end television production. The review will ensure the sector continues to be world-leading.
The UK Skills Review will build on existing research around the sector’s needs and deficits, including studies conducted by ScreenSkills and other industry organisations. The review follows on from the BFI’s existing Future Film Skills Strategy which launched in 2017. The new review will lay out proposals and policy recommendations, some of which will be trialled through pilots in 2022-23.
There is a need to address the imbalance between the regions and nations of the UK to build a localised workforce to ensure areas outside of London and the South East of England continue to thrive. Progress is also needed to improve the inclusion of people from underrepresented groups, where more work is required to ensure greater access to training and opportunities for employment.
Ben Roberts, Chief Executive of the BFI, said:
“Future proofing the industry’s skills is one of our key strategic priorities. This review will help us to stay ahead of the immediate and long term demands of our rapidly evolving sector. It will also help us to meet our vision of ensuring people from all backgrounds and wherever they live, have the opportunity to access jobs in film and television production across the whole of the UK.”