Changing work patterns within industry prompt Skillset review

Technological advances and a greater emphasis on multitasking are changing the nature of jobs in the audio visual industries, according to research by Skillset, who have completed a major review of occupational standards for the industry.
The standards are based on industry needs and are used across the industry as recruitment and training tools. New standards for senior directors, producers, and grips have been produced with existing standards for film and television production; design; hair and make up; costume; camera; lighting; sound; editing; broadcast journalism; radio production; and broadcast engineering updated.
Steve Smith, Managing Director of AFM Lighting, and a member of the standards for technical occupations steering group, said: “Jobs are constantly changing and the standards have to change with them and this can only be done from the inside. This review is helping to ensure the standards are relevant to today’s needs and were developed by industry practitioners, but it’s an ongoing process. They are not an unrealistic rigid ideal; they reflect actual working practices giving employers an easy to use, off the shelf resource which helps write job descriptions, conduct appraisals, and map the training development of staff. But standards have to be continually updated and that means people from the industry have to give up their time to shape them and our long term future.”
The new standards have been approved by the regulatory authorities in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland and are available on line at: http://www.skillset.org/search/sch_detail.asp?id=1245&typ=6
(GB)