Skillset Target Welsh Creative Media Industries

Skillset Cymru has commissioned two research projects that will help drive forward skills within the creative media industries and create more employment opportunities across West Wales and the Valleys.
The projects will identify the current and future skills needed to create a dynamic workforce with high quality jobs.
Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert said: "Capitalising on the opportunities of the digital age and building a workforce with the necessary high skills level is vital to driving forward this exciting and diverse sector.
"The Welsh Government is committed to training people in specialist skills and technologies. Not only will this help to increase our productivity and performance, it will ensure we are well placed to gain the maximum economic and cultural benefits from specialist industries."
The two research projects will be conducted by Trends Business Research and their partners Olsberg. The first research project will be carried out as part of Skillset Cymru's £4.5 million flagship, Skills for the Digital Economy.
Backed with £2.7 million from the European Social fund, the project will inform the funding and development of high level, flexible, industry-led training schemes to help companies and freelancers increase their skills base and competitive edge.
The second project will identify the future skills needs of the Digital and Creative Media sector in Wales over the next five to ten years and ensure that the FE and HE sectors can respond quickly and flexibly to the ever changing skills needs of the sector.
It will be carried out under the Welsh Government's £7 million Sector Priorities Fund Pilot and supported with £2.8 million from the European Social Fund.
Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European programmes Alun Davies said: "This is another example of our successful management of EU funds, bringing further benefits to individuals and businesses across the region."
The research will also help education and skills directly related to employer needs.
Chair of Skillset Cymru and Creative Director of Green Bay Media John Geraint said: "Skillset Cymru's role is to help enable the creative industries to deliver economic prosperity by ensuring that talented people have the right skills. The research is an essential tool which will enable us to accelerate business growth by identifying those skills needs, now and for the future."
(KMcA/BMcC)