Creative Skills 2017

JUNE 2017

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Creative Skills

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Jamal Edwards, Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust: “You’ll find the opportunities are there for the taking if you’re prepared to put the work in.”

LOVE GAMING?

The UK gaming market made £2.96bn in 2016, but few realise the industries range of career opportunities.

P8 BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL

Boosting awareness of niche, skills based roles in fashion.

P4 PHOTO: @GARETHCATTERMOLE

WANT A CAREER IN THE FILM INDUSTRY? JOIN TODAY FOR CAREER ADVICE, JOBS, CV SUPPORT, NEWS, COURSES & MORE!

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IN THIS ISSUE

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Martyn Roberts, Graduate Fashion Week, discusses the career opportunities in fashion P5

Dr Richard Wilson: “Video games industry is high skilled, high growth and high export.”

P6

Creative Industries Federation’s 2017 proposals for improving the creative industry.

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Career opportunities in creative As you leave school, college or university and begin to consider what is next, the creative industries are a smart choice. This campaign will show you the kinds of job opportunities available in this broad sector for which Britain is world renowned.

T

he creative economy accounts for one in 11 jobs. From advertising to architecture, fashion design to publishing, the opportunities are vast and fit a wide range of talents. With the increase in digital, this range is only getting bigger.

The creative economy has been the fastest growing sector of the UK economy since the 2008 financial crash, contributing more than £87.4bn. It is a key driver of growth and was recognised by Theresa May as a strategic priority for the country. Creative jobs are at low risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence in the future. There is nothing “soft” about this sector.

Employment opportunities withFollow us

John Kampfner Creative Industries Federation CEO

in the creative industries extend far beyond the spotlight and include some you may not even realise exist. Many of the pathways towards these jobs are not as clear as those to get into “traditional” industries.

Visual effects designers are critical in generating the wow factor in TV’s Sherlock and Doctor Who. Mil-

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lions have enjoyed the West End’s Les Misérables thanks to unsung heroes such as lighting and sound engineers. Even Adele’s chart-topping success is supported by experts in the recording studio as well as huge creative teams who build her music videos.

New talent is crucial to ensuring the creative industries remain vibrant and world-leading. There is a need to diversify recruitment, both as a matter of social justice and because it makes good business sense for employers to have a workforce that reflects the people buying their books or watching their video games.

We are pleased so many of our members are involved in this effort to share information and insight on our exciting sector. In the pages that

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follow, The British Film Institute addresses developing a career in TV and film. The British Fashion Council’s Caroline Rush discusses the range of roles you might not know about in the fashion industry. TIGA asks how can we encourage young people to develop a career in the games industry from school level.

There are also words from the Graduate Fashion Week on the role of young talent in the future of fashion. Finally, Prince’s Trust ambassador, Jamal Edwards, discusses entering into a career in the performing arts.

The creative industries will be the cornerstone of a thoroughly modern, 21st century, British economy. There is a job for everyone. It is time to find yours.

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INSPIRATION COLUMN

Amanda Nevill CEO, British Film Institute

Opening opportunities in UK film

T

he success of the film industry in the UK is no flash in the pan – worth £3.7 billion to the economy, it is the UK’s fastest growing sector,” says Amanda Nevill, CEO of the BFI (British Film Institute), the lead body for film in the UK. Moving image technology is pushing the boundaries of our imaginations as never before and the UK is at the forefront of this innovation. “We need more young people to develop technical and creative skills needed in the industry, particularly women.”

The UK is one of the most popular places in the world to shoot films and high end television, including box office hits such as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, critically acclaimed films like I, Daniel Blake and internationally successful shows, such as Game of Thrones and The Crown.

This consistent influx of business should reassure parents and teachers as well as young people that a career in TV and film can be rewarding in many ways with a huge range of skills and crafts needed– just take a look at the end credits.

“We are working with partners across the industry to create new opportunities for 1000s of individuals from across the UK to join and progress within UK film.”

Britain’s fashion industry “dynamic and diverse” The UK’s fashion sector is a huge employer with a dynamic range of roles, explains the head of the British Fashion Council.

By Tree Elven

British fashion is a dynamic and diverse presence on the world stage,” says Caroline Rush, Chief Executive at the British Fashion Council (BFC).

“We’ve got incredible colleges that attract great talent and we encourage the best and brightest from all different areas and disciplines to join a sector that brings £28 billion into our economy.”

Caroline Rush Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council

The industry employs 880,000 people, and by no means are all of them designers or models.

“A pattern-cutter, for example, can be absolutely key in a high-end firm and have a career for life. But fewer young people are looking to go into niche areas, like pattern-cutting, through lack of awareness.”

The BFC is working to boost practical, skills-based training

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COLUMN

Martyn Roberts Creative & Managing Director

Graduate Fashion Week Contrary to expectations, the fashion industry isn’t just about modelling and fashion design; it’s an amalgamation of people, skill sets and opportunities.

PHOTO: Graduate Fashion Week gala show. Celebrating fashion design, photograohy, illustration and textiles talent.

via nationwide programmes and internships.

“We need to shout about the great CEOs and finance managers – roles that many careers advisers aren’t aware of. A career in the supply chain can take you all over the world, managing production units and fulfilment.”

Britain’s support schemes for entrepreneurs mean that fashion companies with only two or three team members can make a mark alongside the big fash-

ANIMATION FASHION

ion houses at events like London Fashion Week. “This sends a great signal to the rest of the world that our fashion industry is creative, diverse and supportive,” says Rush.

International economic and creative ties may be tested by Brexit, she acknowledges, but “we have to stay positive. We continue to build strong relationships with our international counterparts to create a voice of union.”

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ILLUSTRATION INTERIOR DESIGN INTERACTION DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY TEXTILES

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USER EXPERIENCE

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Whether you are good with numbers and lean towards the merchandising and buying areas of the industry, or maybe you are more creative – perhaps a keen photographer – areas such as visual merchandising and design might inspire you a fruitful and enriching career.

It’s an industry that’s fun and exciting and like no other. The creative industries are the future of the UK, with the sector growing every year.

The people, too, are some of the most vibrant and interesting people to work alongside and be inspired by.

Entry routes Gaining a career in fashion is varied and not all about hours of work experience, although that can help. Specific university courses can be very beneficial, not only for the qualification and skills but also for the human connections you make during your learning. Knowing the right people will always stand you in good stead, in any sector.

Many in the industry undertook internships that helped to build their experience and bolster their CV, while providing them with real life, hands-on, experience of potential future roles.

Graduate Fashion Week acts as a launch pad for emerging, graduate talent. It is the world’s largest showcase of BA fashion talent and takes place from 4th-7th June at The Truman Brewery.

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INSPIRATION JOE’S STORY

Game on!

Highly-skilled, exciting jobs in a positive industry Joe Langdon Student at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

Joe, 22, was living on a deprived London estate when he fell in with a gang and was involved in a shop robbery.

Trusting no-one and facing time in a juvenile prison, things looked bleak.

Joe says: “I got into a destructive cycle of crime. But, when I got out, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I didn’t want to go back to my past, I wanted to build a better future for myself.”

Joe was moved to Bristol’s Ashfield prison where he enrolled with Truth About Youth – a Prince’s Trust course that builds confidence in young people through performing arts.

Attending the course on day release, Joe made it his mission to prove himself. He went on to successfully apply for one of just 12 places in Bristol Old Vic’s annual Made in Bristol initiative, paying his way by working part time in the box office.

Joe adds: “I am so grateful to The Prince’s Trust – I don’t take anything for granted and count my blessings every day to have got this far. I feel very lucky to be where I am, and be a voice for other people to stop offending and change their lives. If I can do it, so can other people. Thank you to The Prince’s Trust.”

Jamal Edwards Founder of SBTV and Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust

“There is so much opportunity for young people to thrive in the UK’s fast-paced creative industries. You don’t have to be defined by your qualifications, your background, or anything other than your passion for your work. So when you figure out what you want to focus on, work hard at it, keep innovating and learn from everything that happens along the way. You’ll find the opportunities are there for the taking if you’re prepared to put the work in.”

London

By Tree Elven

The video games sector, which contributes £1.2 billion to GDP, enjoys a supportive political environment and looks set to continue to flourish

There was a time when video games got a bad rap. Now, “perceptions have become a lot more positive because of the good quality games that are available in a wide variet of genres,” says Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of The Independent Games Developers’ Association (TIGA). “It’s not an isolated niche any more, and the types of games available are so much more diverse than even 10 years ago. There is also an appreciation across government and parliament that the video games industry is a high skilled, high growth, export focused industry.”

Top sellers are still action and adventure, but puzzle games, casual games and strategy games are also popular now, with educational and training games making inroads too. “Action and adventure can involve thrills and spills, but in 2016 it was more about the strategy and puzzle-solving games for many UK games development studios.”

As for the players, it’s a 50/50 split between men and women, with recent studies showing that there may even be slightly more women than men playing.

As a result, “all studios want to hire more women and recruit a diverse workforce.

What does it take?

The sector employs some 32,000 people already, with approximately 700 companies in the UK actually making games.

“The wonderful thing is the variety of games platforms and genres,” says Wil-

son. UK studios make games for mobile, tablet, console and Virtual Reality (VR).

VR is at an early stage and relatively few consumers have the hardware, but the technology is very impressive.

“Development studios typically need highly educated (to degree level or above), creative people in a range of roles, including computer programmers, game designers and artists. Music and audio also provide important roles.

“As well as the studios employing developers in making games, the UK games industry also embraces a range of highly specialised and skilled service companies, focusing on quality assurance, localisation, art and animation, etc. These service companies also provide highly skilled employment. For example, languages skills are important in the industry because many studios need the dialogue in their games translated so that they can export their content overseas. Legal and accountancy services are also both very significant because studios need expert advice for contracts, intellectual property, financial advice and tax relief.”

“The global market for video games is growing year on year thanks to increasing global demand for games and there’s every reason to believe that will continue. In the UK, all the major political parties support the continuance of video games tax relief which has enabled the UK games industry to grow by an average of 7.1 per cent per annum over the last few years.

The industry also provides above average salaries and pay has historically increased by about 3 per cent annually. It’s a positive industry.”

FILMMAKING / SCREENWRITING / FACTUAL SHORT COURSES / BA & MA DEGREE COURSES centralfilmschool.com/prospectus @CFS_London

PHOTO: LADY MACBETH

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Creating opportunities for the creative industry

By Virginia Blackburn

The creative industries are crucial to the UK economy and yet not enough is being done to advance careers outside of London. Creative England is set to remedy that

“Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not,” says Caroline Norbury, founding Chief Executive of Creative England, which invests in and supports creative ideas, talent and businesses in film, TV, games and digital media. Her company’s mission is to address this and with good reason: in the UK, the creative industries contribute more to the economy than automotive, aerospace and life sciences combined, a cool £87billion in 2015. It employs 1.9 million people directly, and 2.9 million in the wider creative economy and in 2013 the creative industries generated revenues of $2,250billion of world GDP – three per cent - and 29.5 million jobs.

Creative England was founded to invest in the creative industries, from direct investment and soft loans to business mentoring: “We were set up to invest in talented people and our USP is to reach out to businesses beyond London,” says Caroline. “Research we commissioned with NESTA identified 47 creative clusters making a significant contribution to economies across the UK, in places like Manchester and Brighton but also in Warrington and Wigan, Crewe, Colchester,

Hastings and Trowbridge. Between 2011 and 2015 jobs in the creative industries grew by 27 per cent in Yorkshire and Humber, 52 per cent in East Midlands, 39 per cent in West Midlands and 33 per cent in the South West.”

To this end, Creative England has supported 500 creative businesses, backing creative entrepreneurs with the finance, knowhow and connections they need to help grow their business and provide more opportunities for more creative talent. It focuses its investments outside of London, helping to grow ecosystems outside the capital and supports moving image storytellers through programmes such as including Shortflix and iFeatures to support new talent. Recent successes in the cinema include The Levelling and Lady Macbeth. It also works with production companies to make it easier to put productions together outside London and thus spreading the investment and opportunities.

Gaming is also extremely important. “We have many different partners, including for example Microsoft,” which helps source new games,” says Caroline. “We have games hubs in different parts of the country, and have run our GamesLab programmes in cities including Bristol, Birmingham and Leeds, for new and expanding games companies. The company provides also provides investment into games, companies and

Caroline Norbury Founding CEO, MBE, Creative England

virtual reality, for example, a recent investment is in the company Antstream, based in East Sussex, a gaming-as-a-service platform, with years of gaming IP at its disposal, working towards their vision of “any game, any time”. There is also Chester-based Paw Print Games, which creates new IP and works with a variety of multinational companies, including Nickelodeon and Adult Swim, to develop game projects, and Liverpool’s Lucid Games, an aspirational studio working on wildly successful titles including Grand Theft Auto.

But there is still a great deal of progress to be made. “We plan to work with all the players in this sector – public, private, local, national to put the building blocks in place to grow and sustain creative business networks and creative industry communities across the UK,” says Caroline. “This includes strengthening the links between universities and creative industry businesses, working to ensure

all the big players in our creative economy (such as BBC/Channel 4) open up access points for new talent across the country and creating new systems that embrace the freelance nature of the creative industries. As a sector the creative industries are dominated by freelancers and micro businesses who come together around projects. This is a growing movement across the economy and employment generally and will be the professional experience of people entering the industry today.

We need to find new ways to support people working in new ways and move away from ideas of productivity and value that are based around old models of industry.”

Working with universities is an important way forward. “Universities have great access to talent but perhaps less experienced at helping people commercialise what they do or putting them in touch with the right people,” says Caroline. “We’re not a large organisation, but we’re very well connected. You may have had a brilliant idea but if people can’t find you, it’s no good. The ability to connect globally is perhaps the most important aspect of all.”

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NEWS

Prepare to be surprised by careers in the games industry In a world where technology appears to be destroying more and more jobs, the games industry is actively creating them.

By Kate Sharma

T

he UK games market generated £2.96bn in 2016, which is 1.3 times the size of the video market (£2.25bn) and 2.6 times the size of the music industry (£1.1bn), and is only going to get bigger. “At Creative Assembly our team has grown by 34% to over 500 people, within the last year alone,” says Tim Heaton, Studio Director at the games developer Creative Assembly.

“While we have fantastic people in the UK, because the industry is growing so quickly, we often need to look abroad to find people who have the specific skills we need.”

with them are often more extensive than many realise. Within the realm of games design alone there are a multitude of opportunities in content gameplay, UI, UX, narrative or technical design. More broadly, the industry also needs, amongst others, environment artists, sound designers, character artists, development managers and marketers.

Tim Heaton Studio Director at the games developer Creative Assembly

Creativity is Key

There are more than 12,000 people working full time within the games industry at the moment in the UK. The variety of positions available and the career prospects that go

One of the major obstacles faced by the industry is the fact that many simply don’t realise these jobs exist.

“We find that parents play a critical role in young people’s early career paths and quite regularly they are

surprised when they learn about the breadth of professional opportunities available in the games industry,” continues Tim. While more people are coming into the industry via games education courses, Tim is quick to point out that in such a rapidly developing and collaborative arena, passion and creativity often count for as much as a qualification. Tim’s advice for those wishing to succeed in the industry is to create a powerful portfolio; take on board constructive feedback; and never lose the desire to learn.

Read more on yourfuturecareer.co.uk

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

The premiere path to a brilliant career

By Virginia Blackburn

For anyone wishing to work in film or TV, a practical, career-focussed course at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) is an excellent option.

Named by The Hollywood Reporter as, “the top international film school in the world” and The Observer as, “the best film school in the world”, NFTS graduates include 12 times Oscar-nominated cinematographer, Roger Deakins, BAFTA winning Harry Potter director, David Yates and Oscar winning animator, Nick Park, creator of Wallace & Gromit. Its student graduation films have received eight Oscar nominations, 12 BAFTAs and 12 CILECT Global Student Film awards.

“Many people initially try the self-learning route when embarking on their film and television

careers but discover they have gaps,” says Nik Powell, NFTS Director. “The school provides practical, hands-on training in every discipline imaginable from cinematography to sound design and from graphic design to directing.

Students will create lifetime relationships with people that they will work with, for and indeed employ. Graduates of the NFTS tend to hunt in packs: when you see one NFTS person working on a film, you tend to see others there as well.”

The NFTS prides itself on actively seeking out people from diverse backgrounds to attend the school: the criteria is talent, not whether they can afford the fees. “We tell them to apply and then we’ll sort out their financial needs,” says Powell. “We have more scholarships per student than any other I know of anywhere in the world.”

Nik Powell NFTS Director

Practical training is part of the curriculum and students are taught by industry professionals who have already made a name for themselves, such as BAFTA winning Richard Cox (Editing MA). Recent credits include Happy Valley, Oscar winning, Billy Williams (Cinematography MA), known for his work as DoP on Gandhi; Carlos Ciudad (Digital Effects MA) who has

worked in visual effects (VFX) on The Jungle Book and Alien; and many, many more.

“Ninety per cent of teaching is practical,” says Powell. “Certain courses include placements as part of the curriculum and we have initiatives like taking students to Cannes to see how films are funded.”

The results speak for themselves. Recently, NFTS alumni have shot Skyfall, directed Fantastic Beasts, and eight graduates were part of Oscar and BAFTA winning VFX team for The Jungle Book.

If you want to follow in their footsteps, find out more at www.nfts.co.uk

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NEWS

2017 General Election Manifesto for Creative Industries Federation The general election provides an important opportunity to focus on what the country needs to do for the future. We at the Creative Industries Federation - the national organisation for the creative industries, cultural education and arts produced our own general election manifesto to guide and inform the discussion.

O

ur 10-point plan outlines how the new government can promote and support the sector to the benefit of the whole country. We are pleased that some of our proposals have been already adopted by the political parties in their own manifestos.

The UK’s creative industries are the fastest growing part of the UK economy, contributing £87.4bn in GVA. They are key to driving growth and creating new jobs in a post-Brexit Britain. They can also deliver social and economic regeneration.

The Federation manifesto emphasises how critical it is to ensure young people are offered the education, training and skills needed to be able to work in the creative sector. It

1.

tive careers campaign to correct inadequate information about potential careers in the creative industries and open up access to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Better, inspirational advice would go some way towards solving the skills crisis in the creative industries and in others that rely heavily on creative skills, such as manufacturing.

Launch a creative careers campaign. Careers guidance must be transformed.

Government should lead on a crea-

Limit ‘outstanding’ to schools that warrant it.

Creative employment is resistant to automation, and adapting to the future jobs landscape will demand creative skills. Securing a workforce fit for the 21st century begins at school. A school must teach at least one creative subject, in lesson time, in order to be eligible for an ‘outstanding’ rating by Ofsted.

also highlights the support needed by creative businesses in the early stage of their development.

Our proposals include: Set up a creative skills commission. The creative industries face significant skills shortages because we have failed to prepare young people in education and training. The commission would report within six months on practical measures to defuse the skills time bomb and better equip the next generation for 21st century life.

2.

3.

Establish a creative industries ‘business booster’ network. Freelancers, microbusinesses and SMEs – the backbone of the creative industries – often struggle to access finance and support around intellectual property and exports at the early, often risky stage of development. A national centre based outside London and with a regional network, to provide advice on these issues is needed to ensure the creative industries continue to grow apace.

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Read full manifesto online at yourfuturecareer.co.uk

GRADUATE FASHION WEEK The world’s largest event for fashion graduates Sunday 4th - Wednesday 7th June 2017 Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, London Graduate Fashion Week features 22 catwalk shows & exhibitions from over 60 universities worldwide, alongside a packed schedule of live talks, masterclasses and workshops from leading names in the fashion and retail industry. Be inspired by the work of the best graduates from 36 of the UK’s top universities and colleges.

Tickets available to the general public visit: www.gradautefashionweek.com/buy-tickets @officialGFW | #GFW17 | #wearegraduatefashion

techUK represents the companies and technologies that are deďŹ ning today the world that we will live in tomorrow. techUK represents the companies and technologies that are deďŹ ning today the world that we will live in tomorrow.

900 companies are members of techUK. Collectively 900 companies are members of techUK. Collectively they they employ more than 700,000 people, half of all employ more than 700,000 people, about half of allabout tech jobsin in the UK.UK. tech sectorsector jobs the These companies range from leading FTSE 100 companies to new innovative start-ups. The majority of our members are small and medium sized businesses.

These companies range from leading FTSE 100 companies to new innovative start-ups. The majority of our members are small and medium sized businesses.

techUK.org | @techUK | #techUK techUK.org | @techUK | #techUK

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Unlocking success through the power of tech (and sleep) ‘Focus’ is the buzzword of the moment.

Overwhelmed by anxiety, digital overload and an assumed need to multitask with ease, young consumers are searching for simplicity and clarity. Luckily, help is at hand.

From big brands and start-ups introducing innovative products, to insightful reads from high-profile influencers, sleep continues to be a key topic of concern. And rightly so; it’s an essential ingredient to cultivating laser-like focus.

“People are beginning to see sleep as a performance enhancement tool,” says Arianna Huffington, businesswoman, author and co-founder of The Huffington Post in her book, The Sleep Revolution. “Athletes are integrating it into their practice.”

If taking a nap during the day isn’t a possibility, there is a selection of next-gen products waiting

to maximise the sleep we do get.

Under Armour has created a range of clothing called Athlete Recovery Sleepwear, designed to promote better sleep and help your body repair itself while you rest. A bioceramic particle lining on the inside of the garment absorbs the body’s natural heat and reflects Far Infrared energy back to the skin, which heals, soothes and detoxes the body.

In addition to innovations that nurture our body during sleep, we can expect to see more products emerging that support focus and filtering, and a monotasking – completing one task at a time – approach to tackling the ‘to-do’ list.

Amsterdam-based start-up, Knops, has created adjustable earplugs that can tune out daily noises and act as a “volume button for your ears”. Due to ship in November this year, the earplugs allow users to instantly control real-world

Hayley Ard Head of consumer lifestyle, innovation research and trends company Stylus

audio by turning a knob on the side of the wearables. Knops use no electronics, apps or batteries, instead relying on acoustically tuned filters to adjust sound.

Meanwhile, French start-up Akoustic Arts’ A Speaker, directs

audio to one person, even in a crowded room, drowning out distracting noise without the need for headphones.

Sleep is big business. The global sleeping aids market is expected to reach $84.9 billion by 2021 according to BCC Research. Tech products like the examples above will become must-have accessories for today’s students and workers, who are coming into increasingly crowded offices and co-working spaces. The brands that support this need for precision, clarity and focus are set to succeed.

Hayley Ard is head of consumer lifestyle at Stylus, the innovation research and trends company. To find out how Stylus can help you future-proof your business visit stylus.com/why-stylus