Home > News > April 2005 > 06-Apr-2005

Scheme to help train film makers of the future - Kelly

Education and Skills Secretary, Ruth Kelly, has launched a consultation on a new training body for the film industry and a levy on film productions made in the UK with the aim of helping to train British filmmakers of the future.

The proposed Industry Training Board (ITB) for the film industry would be able to put the existing voluntary training levy - the Skills Investment Fund, collected by Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries - onto a statutory footing.

According to Skillset, the current voluntary training levy has raised around £3m from over 240 productions for investment in skills development since it started in 1999. Productions are currently asked to contribute 0.5% of the total production budget up to a maximum of £39,500. Skillset estimate that an additional £500,000 a year would be raised for investment in training by making the levy mandatory,

The levy will support ‘A Bigger Future’ - the 5 year UK film skills strategy launched by Skillset and the UK Film Council in 2003. This training strategy aims to cover everyone working in the film industry from directors and producers, camera operators and sound technicians to set builders and model makers.

Ruth Kelly said: “The British film industry consistently produces creative and technical talent that can compete with the very best in the world. This new initiative will ensure the investment in training to support and retain British film makers and encourage more top young talent in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

"I’m delighted by the extremely positive approach the film industry has towards training its employees and thank Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the film industry and the UK Film Council for their involvement.

"It is for each sector to develop the approaches to training that are right for their specific needs and circumstances and we will support sectors as they develop their strategies through their Sector Skills Agreements.”

It will take approximately 12 months to establish a new Skillset Film ITB which will join the two existing ITBs for Construction and Engineering Construction

External link

A Bigger Future is a joint strategy developed by Skillset and the UK Film Council with the support of the Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission, Scottish Screen and Sgrin Cymru Wales. For further information, please visit http://www.skillset.org or http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

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