On 15 February 2024, Creative UK’s Creative Skills and Futures Network brought our membership together to discuss efforts to protect and secure the creative talent pipeline across the UK.
Opening with a welcome by the chair, Dr Paul Thompson, Vice-Chancellor, Royal College of Art, the first guest speaker was Hayley Russell, Senior Policy Advisor, Creative Industries, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in the UK Government, providing updates on The Cultural Education Plan and the mapping of specialist creative provision for 14–19-year-olds (both England only).
Hayley Russell (DCMS) updated the network that following an internal restructure within DCMS, the Creative Industries team now sits alongside the Arts and Heritage team, which would provide benefit in part through better future alignment of skills work and went on to provide updates around two key projects:
The Cultural Education Plan (CEP) (England only): The CEP is a joint commitment between the UK Government’s DCMS, and the Department of Education (DfE) published in the Schools’ White Paper, (March 2022). The plan aims to champion the social value of cultural education, tackle disparities in opportunities, connect employers and the education sector as partners, and strengthen talent pipelines into cultural and creative sectors. A progress update was shared with members, including that:
Mapping of Specialist Creative Provision (England only): A joint project between DCMS and DfE, aiming to collaborate with industry to better understand current levels of access to high quality specialist creative training for 14 to 19 year olds across England and explore options for enhancing access to existing and new providers. The work is intended to inform strategic priorities when developing policy, including liaising with DfE on the development of the Advanced British Standard (ABS), helping to understand how this provision integrates with those policy reforms. Still in an early phase, the project will have four stages:
1.) Definitions: informed through series of qualitative interviews with industry and education stakeholders.
2.) Mapping: Looking at different approaches e.g. type provider, requirements for applicants, alignment to existing qualifications, occupational standards and industrial codes and links to industry.
3.) Impact: through progression to relevant higher education-based courses and directly into industry, including apprenticeships and other work-based training routes.
4.) Evidence-based conclusions.
If members have any questions or would like to discuss these updates further, you can email Hayley Russell directly at: hayley.russell@dcms.gov.uk
Lara Carmona, Director of Policy and Engagement, Creative UK, updated the network on the development of Creative UK’s manifesto, pre-empting an upcoming UK Government General Election (TBC) and opportunities for members to input views and steer.
Setting the scene, Lara noted Westminster political parties are taking various approaches to developing manifestos and are all at different stages. Beyond political party manifestos, mindful of how critical the first 100 days of a formation of a new UK Government will be, Creative UK continues to engage with Whitehall, briefing officials across a wide variety of UK Government departments to advocate for key policy solutions which affect the breadth of the cultural and creative industries on education, skills, technology, the labour market and levels and flows of funding into and across the creative economy.
Creative UK’s manifesto will seek to respond to how the cultural and creative industries are a sector that continues to grow, despite some significant barriers that inhibits further growth and resilience. For the most part, policy positions in the manifesto are not new for Creative UK and have been informed through discussions with members and stakeholders over an extended period of time. The manifesto will aim to:
Lara updated that Creative UK are in a drafting phase and plan to share a draft with members for feedback in early-March, with a view to publish early-mid April.
Creative UK is excited about collaborating with members on a new approach for this year’s autumn policy party conference season for the main Westminster parties. We are looking to co-host and co-sponsor a pavilion in the secure zone for Labour Party conference in Liverpool to run programming over multiple days, as well as looking to build a smaller programme for Conservative Party conference in Birmingham too. A variety of members have already committed to pooling resource, and Creative UK is looking to find out who else would like to join. The more members there are, the more event costs will reduce and partnerships in our network can be leveraged to provide sponsorship and support. It’s great to work together to ensure the cultural and creative industries are front and centre in policy debate at seminal events in the political calendar, as well as putting on artistic and cultural events too. For more information and to register your interest as soon as possible, please contact Policy@wearecreative.uk as soon as possible.
The meeting moved on to showcase three organisations and their unique approaches to partnership working between education and small businesses or charities that develop high quality student opportunities and outcomes:
Samantha Morley, Employer Engagement- Social Mobility, Diversity & Inclusion, Nottingham Trent University (NTU), delivered the first lightning talk on Grads4Nottm Programme, which offers businesses in the region the opportunity to showcase their brand and access NTU student and graduate talent. View the presentation.
Next Tim Gundry, Assistant Dean: Student Experience, Plymouth Arts University spoke to how embedding live briefs into the curriculum, working with some of the biggest employers in the region, but also working with the charity sector on community-focused initiatives. View the presentation.
Ruth Donnelly, Assistant Director of Career Services, University of Edinburgh, spoke about their Students as Change Agents (SACHA) programme, which empowers students to become lifelong change agents. View the presentation.
This was followed by a lively Q&A with members, sharing best practice. If you missed the meeting and would like more information, please get in touch with us.
The next Creative Skills & Futures Network Meeting will be Friday 12 April: 10:30-12. Click here to sign up.