Enhancing Job Opportunities and Career Advancement for Youth in Film, Television, and Gaming Industries
In a groundbreaking report, Work Advance, led by Director Heather Carey and Lesley Giles, has outlined nine recommendations to better support disadvantaged young people in accessing good jobs and career opportunities within the Film, TV, Radio, and Games industries. The research, funded by Creative PEC and Mission 44, aims to create a more inclusive and accessible creative workforce.
The report highlights the importance of strengthening partnerships between education providers and the industry to create clearer, more accessible career pathways tailored to the creative sectors. This would ensure young people have direct routes into employment.
Another key recommendation is the development of flexible, modular learning and training programs that combine practical experience with theoretical knowledge. These programs would allow for ongoing learning beyond entry-level jobs and support career progression.
The report also emphasises the need to improve access to skills development for freelancers and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the creative industries. This would be achieved by making training more widely available and adaptable for diverse workers.
Focusing career support specifically on disadvantaged young people is another crucial aspect of the recommendations. The report addresses structural barriers such as economic hardship, underrepresentation, and lack of networks within creative sectors.
Increased investment and collaboration in targeted outreach and mentoring programs are also encouraged to guide and support disadvantaged young people through the early stages of their careers.
The recommendations also call for enhancing professional development opportunities across mid-career and senior levels to retain talent obtained from diverse backgrounds and provide clear progression ladders.
Embedding transferable and technical skills training, particularly in high-demand areas like live events, film, and games production, is another important aspect of the report. This would better meet sector needs and future-proof youth employment opportunities.
The report also advocates for fostering inclusive workplace cultures and practices, reducing barriers related to ethnicity, economic background, gender, disability, and other disadvantage factors.
Lastly, the report supports sectoral initiatives linking businesses with artists and communities. This includes the Creative Exchange programme, which provides skills-sharing, mentoring, and economic recovery opportunities, placing creative communities at the centre.
These recommendations aim to create a more inclusive, accessible creative workforce and clear pathways for disadvantaged youth, especially in the Film, TV, Radio, and Games sectors. The worldwide exports of creative goods exceeded $500 billion USD in 2015, with a 150% increase since 2000, underscoring the importance of nurturing this vital sector.
It's important to note that the report does not discuss post-Brexit migration and accessing foreign talent in the Creative Industries, the impact of overseas mergers and acquisitions on the UK video games industry, or the specific role of Aline Collins within Work Advance.
Despite the good intentions of any new Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) scheme, the report does not suggest that they are without concerns, as they add to a crowded set of interventions.
The research found gaps in provision, particularly for care experienced young people or those excluded from school, and limitations in current support interventions. The report details the results of a survey of employers in the UK's creative industries regarding the migrant and skills needs of their businesses.
These recommendations, if implemented, could revolutionise the way the UK's creative industries support disadvantaged young people, fostering a more inclusive and vibrant sector.
- The report suggests strengthening partnerships between education providers and the creative industries to create clear, accessible career pathways for young people.
- A key recommendation is the development of flexible, modular learning and training programs that combine practical experience with theoretical knowledge, supporting ongoing learning and career progression.
- The report emphasizes the need to improve access to skills development for freelancers and SMEs in the creative industries, making training more widely available and adaptable for diverse workers.
- Focusing career support specifically on disadvantaged young people is another important aspect, addressing structural barriers such as economic hardship, underrepresentation, and lack of networks within creative sectors.
- Increased investment and collaboration in targeted outreach and mentoring programs are encouraged to guide young people through the early stages of their careers.
- The report also calls for enhancing professional development opportunities across mid-career and senior levels to retain talent and provide clear progression ladders.
- The report advocates for fostering inclusive workplace cultures and practices, reducing barriers related to ethnicity, economic background, gender, disability, and other disadvantage factors, and supports sectoral initiatives linking businesses with artists and communities.
