Skillset Cymru

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• Skillset Cymru
• Sector Skills Agreement
• Progress in Wales

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Background to Skillset

• Footprint
• Footprint of 400,000 people
• Includes-
• Television, Radio, Film, Animation, Facilities,
  Interactive Media, Commercials, Corporate Video
  Production and Photo imaging.

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• Key sector facts and figures UK
• Distinct occupational profiles 150
• Highly skilled, highly qualified industry
• 66 are graduate, 24 post graduate
• 50 freelance, large number of SMEs
• Highly technology dependent
• 24 billion contribution to GDP in 2002 and
  growing

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• Key sector facts and figures Wales
• Over 600 companies operate in Wales and 8,200 are
  employed within the sector.
• Total turnover of around 350m.
• Sector accounts for approx 2.5 Welsh GDP output.
• Over 40 of workforce are classified as
  freelance.
• TV companies highly dependent on BBC Wales, S4C
  and ITV Wales
• A burgeoning on-line industry now accounting for
  over 50 of total employment.
• The sector is concentrated in Cardiff with strong
  clusters of activity in North and West Wales.

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• Summary of issues facing sector in Wales
• A new regulatory framework OFCOM and the
  Communications Act of 2003
• Technology transforming the sector structure
• Rights retention and exploitation
• Development of content key to future growth of
  the sector
• A need to develop advanced business and
  management skills
• A need to improve knowledge of international
  markets
• Too many graduates entering the industry
• Lack of structured careers advice and guidance

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• Skillset UK organisational structure
• Skillset is a Company Limited by Guarantee
  with Charitable status
• Skillset receives its funding from the
  industry, government, Europe and other sources.
• 74 members of staff UK wide
• Our Chair and Board of Directors guide our
  strategy. They are drawn from senior employment
  interests from across the industry.
• Industry Skills Panels in Wales, Scotland
  and Northern Ireland
• We also have a London Skills Panel and
  Employer Skills Panels in five English Regions

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• Skillset Cymru organisational structure
• Skillset Cymru is based in Cardiff with two
  members of staff
• All staff based in our head office in London have
  Wales responsibilities
• Skillset Cymru has a Skills Panel made up of key
  industry representatives in Wales.
• The Panel reports formally to the Skillset Board
  (UK) via the Chair of Skillset Cymru and guides
  its work in Wales.
• The Panel advises, guides and promotes Skillsets
  strategy, policy and
• action in Wales, informed by the recommendations
  of the Skillset Cymru Sector Workforce
  Development Plan.
• Members of the Panel include- S4C, BBC Wales,
  ITV Wales, Channel 4, Real Radio, Teledwyr
  Annibynnol Cymru (TAC), Producers Alliance for
  Television and Cinematography (PACT), BECTU,
  Sgrin Cymru Wales, IVCA, 6 production companies
  covering Animation, TV, Film, Radio, Facilities
  and Interactive Media

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• Skillset Cymru - role and responsibilities
• Support the production of informed research about
  skills availability and future requirements,
  current provision of, and investment in,
  training/vocational education
• Oversee the development and implementation of the
  Sector Workforce Development Plan for Wales to
  provide an action agenda for industry and public
  agencies
• Help Skillset provide careers information, advice
  and guidance to support individuals life long
  learning and company development
• Promote investment in skills and talent
• Contribute to the development of standards and
  qualifications
• Develop and promote quality education and
  training frameworks
• Support Skillset in representing the sectors
  skills interests to Government
• Support and promote the achievement of diversity
  in the industrys training provision.

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• Work undertaken in Wales pilots case studies
• Sector Workforce Development Plan for the Audio
  Visual Industry in Wales Skillset and ELWa
  Skills Development Fund
• Animation Fast-Track Scheme Skillset and ELWa
  Skills Development Fund
• Business, Management and Leadership scheme
  Skillset and ELWa Skills Development Fund
• Credit and Qualification Framework for the
  Audio-Visual Industries Skillset, ESF and ELWa
• Skillset Careers - ESF
• Approval and Accreditation of FE and HE
  piloting Animation and Screenwriting
• Approval and Accreditation of Film Screen
  Academies Lottery and Industry supported

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SSA Process

• Chosen sub sectors for SSA process in Wales
• 3 sub sectors to be prioritised UK wide
• Television
• Film
• Interactive Media
• Other sectors will also be covered but not in as
  much detail

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• Activities in Wales consultation with Welsh
  employers and partners
• process to date
• Consultation led and overseen by the Skillset
  Cymru Skills Panel
• Skills Panel consists of employers and partners
  (ELWa, WDA, Trade Associations and Unions)
• Update provided at each Skills Panel meeting
• Industry consultations held for each priority
  sector Film, Interactive Media and TV
• Other sector consultations held 12 months ago
• Training providers consulted
• Trainees consulted

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• Approach undertaken
• Stage 1 - Assessment of current and future skill
  needs
• Sector Workforce Development Plan for Wales
  existing research
• Skillset Annual Census and Workforce Surveys
• Priority sector research Film, Interactive
  Media and TV new research
• Futures research anticipated skills trends to
  2010
• Stage 2 - Assessment of current provision
• Survey of current education and training
  provision for the audio visual industry
• Survey of providers views on the support needed
  from the audio-visual industry
• Survey of employers employers perception of
  existing training provision
• Survey of learners views of the industry and
  entry requirements
• International benchmarking

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• Stage 3 - Analysis of the gaps and weaknesses in
  current workforce development activity
• Key skills gaps identified for whole sector
• Key skills gaps identified for priority sectors
  Film, TV and Interactive Media
• A need to match current skills gaps with current
  training provision to be completed
• Emerging Priorities..
• Interactive Media
• A need to Accredit Computer Games courses
• Company development, Management, Planning and
  Leadership skills a priority
• Television
• Business, Management and Leadership skills
• Creativity a need to focus on creative
  individuals
• Technology skills and looking to the future

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• Stage 4 - Emerging priorities and way forward
• Further and Higher Education - High Skill / High
  Knowledge industry - Need to develop links with
  HE
• Apprenticeships - 66 graduate, 24 post graduate
  - Need flexibility in qualifications
• Support for Freelancers - High levels of
  freelance / short term contracts - develop new
  models
• Careers IAG - Oversupply of those wanting to
  enter the sector - all IAG services to be based
  on sector-based LMI
• Business Development Support - High levels of
  SMEs / growth sector - work with WDA/ELWa to
  develop tailored solutions
• Capacity and continuity a need to maximise
  industry/public partnerships via the SSAs

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• Issues for Stakeholders in Wales
• What do you want from Wales?
• Further and Higher Education HEFCW, Careers
  Wales
• Apprenticeships ELWa, WAG
• Support for Freelancers ELWa, WDA, Careers
  Wales
• Careers IAG - Oversupply of those wanting to
  enter the sector - all IAG services to be based
  on sector-based LMI Careers Wales, WDA, HEFCW,
  Job Centre Plus
• Business Development Support - High levels of
  SMEs / growth sector WDA, ELWa
• Capacity and continuity WAG, ELWa, WDA, HEFCW,
  ACCAC, Careers Wales, SSDA and Job Centreplus

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Emerging Challenges

• Bringing industry along
• Raising expectations
• A matter of trust
• Delivery on the promise
• Making a real difference
• Timescales

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• www.skillset.org