Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Accepted
Paragraph: 137
Welsh creative industries face significant skills shortages hindering economic growth.
Conclusion
The creative industry provides an opportunity for employment and economic growth in Wales. Wales already has a strong reputation in this area and produces programmes which are seen by a global audience. However, the industry is currently threatened by the skills shortage in this area. We welcome the plans published by Creative Wales and by the UK Government to address skills shortages in this area, and this needs to be seen as an area of priority. However, more still needs to be done to address skills shortages.
Government Response Summary
The UK Government is addressing creative industry skills shortages by supporting the BFI's £9.6m National Lottery funding for skills clusters, with a Wales cluster expected in Q1 2024, and through DCMS funding for the National Film and Television School, including its Cymru Wales site.
Paragraph Reference:
137
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The UK Government is also working to grow a UK-wide skilled workforce to meet the demand created by the screen tax reliefs. In April 2023, the British Film Institute (BFI) announced £9.6m of National Lottery funding over three years to support skills development and training across the UK. Six Skills Clusters have already been announced for: The North of England, the Metro-London Area, Scotland, West Midlands, Northern Ireland, and Berkshire. The BFI expects to make a further announcement on a Skills Cluster in Wales in the first quarter of 2024, in keeping with the fund’s stated ambition to establish at least one cluster in each nation of the UK. DCMS also provides funding to the National Film and Television School (NFTS) of approximately £2m per year to support NFTS sites, including NFTS Cymru Wales in Cardiff. They also receive regular funding from DfE, and have received government support for the duration of their 50 year history.