Task force to address screen sector skills gap launches

Leaders from across the UK’s screen sectors are set to work together through a Skills Task Force that will address skill shortages in the industry.

The body features more than 20 senior representatives from major broadcasters, studios and streaming platforms, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Netflix and Sky.

Three focused workstreams have been established: industry training and investment, improving access to the Apprenticeship Levy and pathways to industry from further and higher education.

The immediate focus of the task force will be skills in physical production across film, high-end television, scripted comedy and drama, unscripted production including entertainment and factual entertainment genres, and children’s TV.

Animation, post-production, and visual effects will be addressed in a second phrase of work via a dedicated workstream.

Where appropriate, the task force will make recommendations to the government.

Chair of the project Georgia Brown, former Head of Amazon Studios, said: “If we want to accelerate growth and build a sustainable industry, we must accelerate change by creating a robust framework to develop, support, train and ignite the next generation of talent.

“It’s an honour to work collaboratively with colleagues from across the industry to lead this important work.”