Sir Alan Parker backs film skills research

Sir Alan Parker, Chairman of the Film Council, has given his full backing to a major research project that will inform a new and comprehensive skills strategy for the UK film industry.
From June to September a team of expert interviewers will be talking in depth to industry organisations, employers, trainers and educationalists across the UK. Their aim will be to identify occupations where industry skills are falling short of commercial requirements, which skills are in short supply, and to what extent available training and education is actually meeting industry needs. The project will also look for international examples of successful training models that could be adapted for UK introduction.
Mr Parker hopes that employers, industry bodies and educational institutions alike will recognise the importance of this research and participate fully.
He said: "Training is vital to every part of the UK film industry. While the industry unarguably offers some of the best skills and talent in film today, we need to retain and develop these talents if we are to continue to compete successfully in this global industry."
Stewart Till, Vice Chairman of Skillset and Deputy Chairman of the Film Council will chair the group meeting over the coming months to report in October on their recommendations on strategy and action plan that will follow.
Mr Till said: "This research will help to pin-point current and emerging skills shortages in the workforce and where training needs to be strengthened in order to enable the UK industry to become a stronger and more confident world-wide player."
The project was launched on May 28 at the first meeting of the Film Skills Group, which will oversee and steer the research. The group includes representatives from all sub sectors of the film industry (i.e. development, production, post-production, distribution, exhibition, etc) as well as trade unions, professional bodies and the research's commissioners - Skillset, the Film Council, Sgrîn, Scottish Screen and the Northern Ireland Film Commission.
The research findings will be used to develop a strategy and an achievable, pragmatic action plan, ensuring that on-going training investment decisions are made according to industry.
Skillset, www.skillset.org
(GMcG)