Skillset Blog

THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL CONTENT

January 28th, 2010 by Fiona Kilkelly

Digital Content will change more in the next seven years than in the last 20. Are you ready? What’s going to happen to TV & Film? Could you spot the next Spotify, iplayer or wii? What will become of news? Are you ready to get the most out of next generation networks? How do we unlock the power of social media? This is your chance to define how content will be distributed, and how it will consumed…

To answer these questions, CITIN are bringing together some of the brightest minds to explore how the future can be created in a series of workshops across England in February 2010. What new business models, what policies, what industry partnerships need to be created to deliver world class digital content to people in the most compelling manner.

CITIN are looking for people who not only have the imagination to build on these scenarios, but who know how they could be delivered. If you are interested in attending this workshop email events@citin.org.

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THE BRITISH FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRIES – DECLINE OR OPPORTUNITY

January 27th, 2010 by Fiona Kilkelly

As you’ve probably have seen from our recent press activity, the Lords Communications Committee’s report on the state of the UK Film and TV industry was out this week. Not only was it a fine report, it had a lot of very good things to say about the importance of training and skills for the prosperity of the industry and our work at Skillset.

Here is a summary of what we said about the recommendations:

1. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills should encourage the Higher Education Funding Council to deploy some of its funding to support high-level, post-graduate training in the postproduction and animation sectors;
2. The Higher Education and Funding Council should encourage closer relationships between universities and the creative industries;
3. Skillset’s work on a code of conduct for internships. We are encouraged by the Committee’s support and we will soon be able to publish Guidelines for the industry that cover apprenticeships and other on-the-job training, as well as internships;
4. The film and television industries should provide more equal access to training and skills-based career development through greater use of apprenticeships and graduate internships;
5. Welcoming the continuing role played by the BBC and the BBC’s willingness to make its training more widely available through the launch of the BBC Academy;
6. Understanding the current pressures on the budgets of UK commercial public service broadcasters, but highlighting that a reduction in training budgets threatens the future competitiveness of the UK television industry and urging the Government to encourage them to revive their investment in training;
7. Regret that the UK Film Council should be forced to reduce significantly its funding for training for the next three years, at a time when training should be a priority. Skillset backs the Committee’s call for the Government to make sure that the UK Film Council is adequately funded to allow it at least to restore its former level of support for training;
8. Accepting that in an industry so dependent on freelance working and informal training, there is an urgent need to clarify the uncertainty around statutory definitions of training and asking the industry regulator to take a long term view.
9. Ofcom proposals to develop co-operation within the regulatory framework for training in TV and recommending Ofcom to publish guidance to clarify the roles of the organisations involved.

Here here!

Posted in Media Academies, Skillset, TV, creative media, higher education | No Comments »

Leadership and management needs of the creative media sector

January 14th, 2010 by Fiona Kilkelly

I am hoping that some of you may be able to provide us with some insights into the leadership and management needs of the creative media sector…..

We are currently mid way through a research project with MTM London. The project aims to provide an analysis of current levels of provision and of learning priorities in the creative sector, enabling us to assess the extent to which current training needs are being met and identify opportunities to support L and M training.

I have outlined below what we have established to date, some of it you may know already but I would appreciate any feedback from you wise owls as to whether this is ringing any bells or if we are missing any nuances. Or let me know if you have undertaken any training / mentoring in L&M which has really hit the mark (we have captured about 60 initiatives so far but some may have slipped through the net).

The story so far…

1. There is a strong consensus across the industry that effective leadership and management provision to the creative sectors is likely to involve a combination of generic, sector-wide and sub-sector-specific programmes.

2. In addition, effective leadership and management provision needs to be tailored to the experience of the learner and (to a degree) the size of the learner’s company:
a. Less experienced attendees are likely to benefit most from courses focused on basic business and financial skills
b. More experienced attendees (owner / CEO level) are likely to benefit most from courses focused on developing strategic skills – such as business planning and managing change and growth
c. Additionally, training priorities tend to vary by company size – for example SME needs are likely to be more focused on people management and basic business skills, whereas larger organisations are more in need of training focused on new business models and IP

3. Importantly, there was broad consensus that effective training provision tended to incorporate some or all of the following characteristics:
a. focus on mentoring and coaching, matching learners with leaders who have proven track records
b. active learning methods built around creative tasks
c. work-based learning, with attendees to programmes able to put training knowledge into action immediately
d. short and immersive courses that allow for the needs of time-poor leaders and managers
e. be tailored to the experience of the learner
f. be delivered through short and immersive, work-based learning programmes, or intensive coaching and mentoring programmes.

4. In general, industry participants believe that there is a lack of provision tailored to sector-wide and sub-sector needs, and that where provision exists it is hard to discover and is often marketed to companies using language that does not engage creative leaders and managers.

5. Importantly, even if provision is tailored to learner needs, there are a number of important barriers to demand including cost, lack of time, and a perception that training programmes lack credibility.

What do you think, does this sound right? I welcome your thoughts, comments and questions.

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Face to face chat on the Journalism occupational standards

January 6th, 2010 by suzannek

We have been conducting an online consultation into an overhaul of journalism occupational standards which closes this Friday. Earlier this week I provided a brief explanation of what occupational standards are on this blog. There’s been a lot of interest and thanks to everyone who’s been in contact.

We have some face to face discussions organised for next week. If you would like to come along and contribute, contact Julie Hadwin. Meeting venues and contact details below.

Contact: Julie Hadwin | julie.hadwin@btinternet.com | T: 020 8579 3792 | M: 07802 795509

CARDIFF: Thursday 7 January 1300-1600
Skillset Cymru, 33-35, West Bute Street, Cardiff, CF10 5LH

LONDON: Friday 8 January 1000-1300
Skillset, Focus Point, 21 Caledonian Road, London N1 9GB

BELFAST: Monday 11 January 1400-1600
Northern Ireland Screen, Alfred House, 21 Alfred Street, Belfast BT2 8ED

LONDON: Tuesday 12 January 1000-1300
Premier Inn, 26-30 York Way, King’s Cross, London N1 9AA

MANCHESTER: Wednesday 13 January 1300-1600
Manchester Conference Centre, Room 3A, Sackville Street, Manchester M1 3BB

GLASGOW: Thursday 14 January 1000-1300
Skillset Scotland, 249 West George Street, Glasgow G2 4QE

LONDON: Friday 15 January 1000-1300
Premier Inn, 26-30 York Way, King’s Cross, London N1 9AA

Tags: digital, journalism, magazines, multimedia, newspapers, online, Publishing, Radio, Television, TV
Posted in Publishing, Skillset, TV | No Comments »

What are occupational standards for journalism and advertising sales?

January 4th, 2010 by suzannek

Standards

Before christmas we announced an industry consultation on a major overhaul of occupational standards for advertising sales and journalism.

Don’t forget that you can still feedback: the deadline is Friday 8th January.

Both sets of standards have an online questionnaire where you can fill in as much – or as little – detail as you want. You can find the links here for journalism and advertising sales.

Here at Skillset Towers we are always looking to develop standards to best reflect current industry needs, but it is sometimes easy to forget that not everyone will have used standards or know what they are. So here’s a brief explanation of why they are useful for businesses and individuals working in creative media.

Standards provide a framework of tried and tested good practise that tells you what needs to be done to effectively perform a job. They offer a list of the skills and knowledge you need to undertake a role, but without being prescriptive by trying to tell you how you do it. They are used by individuals and companies for a range of activity including:

For individuals and freelancers

evaluate and demonstrate skills, knowledge and competence in a competitive employment market
identify your training needs to ensure your skills remain up-to-date
identify non-specialist skills that enhance employability e.g. problem solving, health and safety, team working, etc.

For employers

draw up a list of skills and knowledge required for a role via job descriptions, job profiles etc
communicate their needs for a particular role to staff
use as a basis for selection and recruitment of staff
identify training or continuing professional development (CPD) needs
job role design
measuring staff performance and a tool for appraisals

They can also be used by Careers advisers as a tool to assist with applications and to ensure they demonstrate industry knowledge, and we also encourage training and learning providers to map their provision to the standards where possible.

If you have an interest in advertising sales or journalism, make sure you take part in the consultation, but don’t be put off by the number of them. This is intended to be a comprehensive shopping list of skills that you can browse and select only the items that work for your particular role.

The finished standards will be published this spring. If you need further information in the meantime, email me at suzannek@skillset.org or have a look at our website.

Tags: standards
Posted in Publishing, Skillset, TV, creative media | No Comments »

Multiplatform bursaries

November 25th, 2009 by suzannek

asset_14312_hl Skillset recently announced an investment of £200,000 in multiplatform skills by offering bursaries worth up to £800 to those employed in – or working as a freelance for – the television industry. With 500 places available on 38 pre-selected courses, Skillset can pay up to 80% of the multiplatform training costs.

Why multiplatform? The onset of convergence between the television, digital and interactive media industries is creating new challenges and demanding new skills from the workforce. Therefore, multiplatform skills have been identified by Skillset’s Television Skills Council as a priority training area. The Council is made up of senior representatives from broadcasters, unions and independent producers, who all agree that while multiplatform delivery is the future of television, there are large skills shortages in this area.

The courses are at foundation level, around programme skills or for general management, and include:

This is a scheme that responds directly to the challenges of those working in creative media who intend to work in or with the TV industry in a multiplatform context. Full details on eligibility, the courses available and how to apply are available on the Skillset website. But hurry, even though the deadline is 26 March 2010, applications are flooding in and places are limited.

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Data Publishers Conference 2009: Future of Digital Publishing

November 10th, 2009 by suzannek

dpa

This one day annual conference held each October brings together the great and the good from data and directory publishing. This year’s programme included strategic and practitioner streams which delegates used to share best practice, learning, practical skills and to review competing software and technology platforms.

I was particularly interested in the opening keynote session – including David Hendon, senior Director at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, who was there to put the government’s case – on the future of digital publishing. All the panelists were clear on the importance and immediacy of the impact of digital publishing on the industry and while there was a lot of discussion around the role of government in procurement as well as the use of and source of information, I was particularly interested in the panellist and audience response to the skills and innovation required to fuel the success of this sector.

It was agreed that the UK has the technology – or semantic – lead, but there were questions about whether as an industry they know enough about research in university that has the potential to seed future product development.

Tim Weller, CEO and founder of Incisive Media identified the following weaknesses in the public and private sector: a lack of specific skills; a lack of understanding of economic contribution of the creative industries; and clear structural, cyclical and regulatory threats to advertising revenues.

He identified a lack of action on the issues, but it wasn’t all about tax competitiveness being in decline or tackling piracy (both of which featured). He advocated supporting the genius of the arts and creative sector, citing the absence of allocated new university places to the creative industries as an example of where more could be done.

When I asked the panel for more detail on the skills in need, they talked of getting “back to basics”, getting more people through ICT courses in college and into the industry, developing more knowledge based courses to get people into our sector with the right knowledge and skills, and going back to schools to get the right skills in the curriculum (finance was specifically mentioned).

They acknowledged that industry needs to spend time training their teams, but added that the right students will come through in due course, that we are going to get there and are in transition. However, they also felt the need to push hard for the future rather than argue for what is right in the present.

The overwhelming message I took away was the need for information technologists: those with high level ICT or technical skills, but with creative and critical ability to think around solutions and the consumer. It throws the spotlight on work across technical and creative departments in higher education and how they must work together to develop the vital skills of the future workforce.

Watch the session on the DPA website.

Posted in Publishing, Skillset, creative media, higher education | No Comments »

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