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Creative industries blueprint

Skills and diversity in £5 billion sector to be enhanced.

Improved diversity, better promotion of jobs and highlighting opportunities to young people are at the heart of a new Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s creative industries.

With the sector already worth over £5 billion to the Scottish economy and employing around 68,600 people, the Plan aims to further enhance its economic value and worldwide reputation. Key actions include:

  • Establishment of a ‘Young Creatives’ programme to promote diversity with ambassadors and role models
  • More opportunities in schools and colleges around business start-up and planning in creative disciplines
  • Promote employment opportunities and career management skills for creative graduates
  • Support for creative businesses seeking to grow domestic and international markets
  • Review how the Creative Modern Apprenticeships programme could be expanded
  • Support executive level training in business skills such as marketing, finance and funding.

Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training Roseanna Cunningham was joined by actor Kevin Guthrie on a visit to Young Scot and said recently:

“The creative industries in Scotland sit among our most distinct and exciting employment sectors, from our rich history in the arts to our world leading work in games and technology development.

“Worth more than £5 billion and supporting close to 70,000 jobs, it is entirely right that we support the sector to grow, prosper and continue its key role in the development of Scotland’s economy.

“Today’s Plan has been backed by education and enterprise and pulls together a number of actions for the sector. The creative industries will work with Skills Development Scotland on developing a diverse, skilled workforce that can help drive our economy forward.

“We want our businesses to expand and people with qualifications in relevant fields to be able to properly harness their skills in the area that’s right for them. While we understand that the range of specialisms that fall into the area of ‘creative industries’ is very wide and one size does not fit all, we want to encourage a wider talent pool, including more young women and men.

“Skills Development Scotland will continue to work closely with employers and relevant bodies through the Creative Industries Skills Forum, to ensure that the actions identified are taken forward with industry and that our creative industries continue to be world-leading and a real source economic growth.”

Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop added:

“Scotland’s vibrant creative industries employ more people than the oil and gas industry and have a higher GVA than the life sciences sector. The Scottish Government is determined to maximise the economic, social and cultural benefits our creative industries can deliver through a range of support targeted towards the whole sector. This skills investment plan is an important contribution to wider support for Scotland’s creative industries.”

Gordon McGuinness, Depute Director of Industry and Enterprise Networks at SDS, said:

“The diverse and competitive nature of Scotland’s Creative Industries sector means that entrants need a wide variety of skills to be successful. That ranges from the core skills of any one sub-sector to broader abilities in areas such as business, digital skills and career management.

“The Skills Investment Plan offers a framework to further develop those skills, and SDS will work with the full range of employers and industry stakeholders across the sector in aiding its delivery.”

Notes To Editors

In 2012, the Creative Industries (including Digital) generated £5.5 billion of economic activity and contributed more than £3 billion to Scottish GVA.

The Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s Creative Industries will appear here with emailed or hard copies available from Craig McQueen at Skills Development Scotland on 0141 285 6110 ahead of Friday.

The Creative Industries Skills Forum will operate for an initial three year period and its primary role is to take ownership of the new Skills Investment Plan, oversee and monitor its implementation and to advise Skills Development Scotland as they proceed in pursuit of the Action Plan.

 

Channel website: http://www.gov.scot/

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