DCMS Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright has announced a new apprenticeship pilot scheme to enable young people from underrepresented groups to gain experience working on some of the biggest films and TV shows in the UK.
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has pledged £100,000 to help deliver the apprenticeship scheme, which will give around 25 young people hands-on experience on the sets of major films and TV shows during a 12 month programme.
No relevant qualifications are needed and the focus will be on recruiting people from a diverse range of backgrounds before the launch in late 2019. Jobs include everything from Junior 2D Artist, to broadcast production assistant or post production technical operator.
While visiting the set of the new James Bond film at Pinewood Studios, he also expressed support for the new Creative Industries Council Charter. The Charter commits the industry to take action in eight areas to create a more diverse workforce that appeals to people from all backgrounds and regions of the UK.
It has been formally adopted by the Council, which is made up of leading figures across the Creative Industries including TV, computer games, fashion, music, arts, publishing and film. It builds on existing programmes such as the British Film Industry’s Diversity Standards, which focus on disability, gender, race, age and sexual orientation and seek to ensure that people from lower socio-economic groups are better represented.
“The UK is a powerhouse for award-winning creativity enjoyed by millions globally. But our Creative Industries cannot remain the preserve of the privileged, which is why we are helping to create new opportunities to develop a more diverse workforce“, he said.
“I welcome the Creative Industries Council’s Diversity Charter and also call for firm commitments from major studios, both in the UK and worldwide, to adopt the BFI’s pioneering Diversity Standards. Companies must provide opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to go as far as their talents take them in this thriving sector“.
His visit comes as Pinewood launches its new Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Strategy, with a commitment to encourage all future productions to take up the BFI’s Standards.
New figures reveal the number of jobs in the Creative Industries sectors stood at just over 2 million in 2018, an increase of 1.6% from 2017 and accounting for 6.2% of all UK jobs. The number of jobs in the Creative Industries has increased by 30.6% from 2011: three times the growth rate of employment in the UK overall.
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