£2.8 Million Invested In Media Skills For The Region

The media and digital industries within the Northwest are set to benefit from a £2.8 million cash injection to further boost media skills development activities across the region.
The scheme is funded by the North West Development Agency following a joint proposal from North West Vision and Media, the regional screen agency and Skillset, the sector skills council for the creative media industries.
Over 100 employers, trade unions and trade associations were consulted to define where the funding is needed and to demonstrate why investment on such a large scale is required.
Northwest Vision and Media will lead on the delivery alongside Skillset North - an industry-led steering group including ITV, Lime Pictures, Key 103, Code ComputerLove, Sony Studios and the BBC.
The programme is just one part of a wider investment in the creative media industries along with investment in Liverpool John Moore's Skillset Media Academy, a National Centre for Excellence for the Games Industry, the launch of a major new writers initiative and the continuation of the flagship Media Production Apprentice - all based here in the North West.
The £2.8 million will be spent on training aimed at employees and managers of small/medium creative businesses, at professional freelancers and those termed as new entrants (generally with two years experience). It will be practical, relevant and industry focused, with industry mentors leading in many areas.
The success of this funding will see North West Vision and Media and Skillset deliver a two-year rolling programme that builds on the existing high quality schemes and workshops run by Northwest Vision and Media, which range from apprenticeships and mentoring sessions to specialist skills workshops and short courses.
Skillset will focus its work with higher and further education on projects with creative and media businesses.
Dinah Caine, Chief Executive of Skillset, said: "It is great news for both our industry and the North West region. This funding is targeting existing and future skill needs and demonstrates eloquently how a partnership between industry, public sector and training provision can increase competitiveness and productivity - a skills agreement for our industries working in the North West. Skillset is very proud to have initiated the process and delighted to be working with our partners in North West Vision and Media to realise and deliver the vision of a strong media industry in the North West."
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media, which comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging and publishing. Further information is available at: www.skillset.org.
North West Vision and Media Training North West have been working independently for several years, but merged in May 2007 to work behind the scenes supporting funding and promoting TV, film and digital content production in the Northwest.
(KMcA)