Skillset Supports UK Government-Led Skills Study

Officials from Skillset, the independent, UK-wide Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the Audio Visual Industries whose remit includes the video games industry, have announced glowing approval for the recommendations made today by the Leitch Review, which detailed a number of changes necessary to meet the skills challenges of the UK economy in 2020. According to the government-sponsored report, industry should be the driving force behind devising and implementing solutions to skills and education problems via the SSC. According to Skillset, these action plans detail the sectors' needs, as well as how best to make available the training and education that will meet those needs. Skillset works with the film, TV and interactive media industries to identify and address skills and training needs within the workforce. Contributions made by Skillset include working with the industries to accredit and support courses and institutions that meet industry standards, including establishing Skillset Academies in TV and interactive media. In addition, the organization developed a qualifications strategy focused on film, TV and interactive media that covers opportunities for pre 16, 14-19, as well as higher education, new entrants and the existing workforce. Ian Livingstone, creative director at Eidos and chair of Skillset's computer games skills forum, said: “Sector Skills Councils help industry to cut through the complexity and bureaucracy of the training and education system and the funding bodies related to it. Skillset has done this for the computer games sector through our Sector Skills Agreement – Creating the Future - but to implement that agreement to full effect the Government needs to follow through on the recommendations we’ve heard from the Leitch Review today.” “Today’s backing for Skillset and for the central role industry has to play in setting the skills agenda is a very welcome development,” added Andrew Chitty, MD of Illumina Digital, and chair of Skillset's interactive media industry forum. “The Leitch Review has endorsed the sector-based approach and I hope this signals a renewed commitment to SSCs from the Government with the support and resources we need to get the job done.” Further information regarding Skillset and the services it provides can be found at the official website.