Developing talent and skills for the Creative Industries is
vital for the future of these industries and the whole of
the UK economy. In 2011 the Creative Industries Council tasked
our Group to look into this essential component
for Growth.

While the focus of the Government in relation to this work is England, the issues for the industries are UK-wide. We received input and examples of good practice from all parts of the UK and have now shared our thoughts and recommendations with all parts of the UK - read these recommendations in the report.

Our Group during the course of its deliberation sought input on what were called the Big Questions. These were:

1. Is school-based education providing young people with the right understanding, knowledge and aptitudes for the Creative Industries?
    
2. How do the Creative Industries best communicate and supply access to relevant Careers information, advice and mentoring to:
   • those wishing to enter; and
   • those already in the workforce wishing to develop their skills and progress in their careers.

How do we work effectively with the All-Age Careers Service? 

3.  How can we improve fair access and clear entry and progression routes into the Creative Industries to ensure the best possible talent and skills base that is representative of the UK's population? How can we increase the take up of formal Apprenticeships and paid Internships)?
    
4. How do we best develop the skills for creative competitiveness and growth amongst the existing workforce and provide continuous professional development (CPD) to support it?
    
5. How do we best develop innovative world-beating leaders, managers and entrepreneurs with the right skills and attributes to ensure our future creative growth? Do today’s leaders and managers deploy and use the talent and skills of our workforce as effectively as they might? Or can more be done?
    
6. How can we maximise partnerships:
   • between Creative Industries and Further and Higher Education; and
   • better partnerships within Further and Higher Education between faculties supporting the fusion of creativity, technology and entrepreneurship needed by many employers?
      
7. How can we ensure our industries (employers, employees, freelancers), and those wishing to enter, can identify appropriate and quality training and Further and Higher Education provision?
    
8. How do we ensure that educators and trainers are supported to be equipped with updated and relevant skills, information and knowledge both within subject specific to Creative Industries and others, e.g. marketing, finance, law and business studies?
    
9. How do we best facilitate networks and partnerships to aggregate support and scalability to achieve commonly identified solutions:
   • (a) across the Creative Industries;
   • (b) between the Creative Industries and key education and training providers;
   • (c) between the Creative Industries and Government and its public agencies?
      
10. Is the Labour Market Information and intelligence gathering that we currently produce across the Creative Industries sufficient to effectively inform planning and investment in appropriate delivery? Can we improve it and in what way?
     
11. What examples are there of projects, initiatives or policies that are successfully delivering on any of the above issues and which could usefully be given greater profile or wider application?
     
12. How can we deliver better outputs and investment for supporting talent development by reducing Red Tape and introducing flexibilities which meet the employment and company profile needs of the Creative Industries?

Click this link if you would like to download a PDF of the Big Questions.