BFI launches Future Film Skills: 10-point plan to grow the UK film workforce

Announced in the UK House of Commons, the British Film Institute (BFI) will lead a major skills initiative designed to keep the UK film industry competitive. The programme aims to create 30,000 jobs overall and recruit 10,000 new film industry professionals within the next five years.

BFI Chief Executive Amanda Nevill described the plan, launched on Wednesday 28 June 2017, as urgent rather than optional. “Future Film Skills – An Action Plan is not a ‘nice to have’ but an ‘urgent must’ if we are to achieve the growth potential for UK film that is in front of us,” she said at the launch.

The initiative begins with an initial investment of £20 million from the National Lottery. Its core goals are to make film careers easier to access and understand, provide financial support and services to widen participation, open new routes for skilled trades and digital creatives to enter the sector, and establish programmes that encourage experienced practitioners to pass on their knowledge. A strong emphasis is placed on increasing representation from groups currently under-represented in the industry.

The official 10-point action plan

1. A trusted and reliable careers information service

   A single, trusted online destination for anyone seeking information to start or progress a career in film. The service will gather links, networks and information on training and job opportunities across the UK, simplifying access to career guidance and signposting to existing resources.

2. An accreditation system to guarantee employer confidence

   Developed by the industry alongside higher education, this accreditation will give parents, learners and employers greater confidence in training programmes. The scheme will build on current initiatives and involve employers directly in setting standards.

3. A suite of new Apprenticeship Standards

   New Apprenticeship Standards will be completed and delivered for a range of roles across production, distribution and exhibition, creating clearer, industry-recognised pathways into skilled jobs.

4. A Skills Forecasting Service

   A responsive forecasting and planning service will provide regular sector-wide data on skills needs and future opportunities, allowing training and recruitment to align with industry demand.

5. Embed the BFI Film Academy into the skills pipeline

   The BFI Film Academy will be further developed to work closely with industry, placing alumni who are set-ready as trainees on productions across the UK to accelerate progression from learning to employment.

6. A mentoring service to break down barriers for new entrants and returnees

   A tailored mentoring programme will offer personalised support for individuals entering or advancing in the film sector, including those returning after a career break. The programme will include mentoring, pastoral care, coaching, networking and job awareness.

7. World-class Centres of Excellence for screen-related craft and technical skills

   In partnership with higher education and the new Institute of Technology, a small number of Centres of Excellence will be established to deliver advanced craft and technical training for screen careers.

8. A new bursary programme to ensure wide participation

   A bursary scheme will help remove practical barriers for those taking their first steps into the industry, with particular focus on under-represented groups.

9. Professional development courses to maintain world-class skills

   A range of professional development courses, aligned with the latest technologies and business practices, will help the workforce stay at the cutting edge.

10. Mobilise the industry

    The initiative will encourage industry support for the future workforce through targeted schemes and campaigns, including a database to match individuals with local needs and recognition for employers who promote skills transfer.

The scheme has attracted industry backing. Lucasfilm ran a pilot programme that placed 28 trainees in paid craft and technical roles on a major production, demonstrating the impact of on-set training in creating new career pathways.

“This initiative is meaningful for both Lucasfilm and the film industry at large. Diversity is just as important behind the scenes as it is on the screen. More points of view, more perspectives, and more voices will only make films better.” — Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm

“The UK film industry is one of our biggest success stories and the films made here are loved by audiences around the world. For this to continue we need to nurture and foster the next generation of talent – both in front of, and behind the camera. The 10 point skills plan being launched today will be instrumental in helping to deliver this, as well as making sure that the films in the UK are truly representative of the UK’s diverse society.” — Karen Bradley, UK Culture Secretary

The UK film sector is currently one of the fastest growing industries and contributes around £4.3 billion to the economy each year. Despite that growth, representation remains a significant challenge: only 12% of film professionals come from less-advantaged socio-economic backgrounds, 5% identify as having a disability, and 3% represent ethnic minorities. Women make up 40% of the workforce but remain paid less on average, with median annual earnings reported around £3,000 lower than their male colleagues.

Future Film Skills, together with the recent creation of a Head of Diversity role at the BFI, seeks to increase representation and remove barriers for under-represented groups by 2022. The combined approach of information, training, bursaries, mentoring and industry partnerships aims to build a more diverse, skilled and sustainable workforce for UK film.

For full details on Future Film Skills – An Action Plan, consult the British Film Institute website.