Future skills and CreaTech: ScreenSkills strategy

ScreenSkills will play a vital role in guiding the workforce to anticipate technological trends and stay competitive by fostering cross cutting skills such as collaboration, creative thinking, and problem-solving as well as enabling access to specific and evolving skills needed in areas such as digital, Generative AI and Virtual Production.

ScreenSkills will guide the screen sectors in developing future-ready skills to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global market. The strategy focuses on two key areas: collaborating with national and regional partners to communicate what will be needed to enhance technological skills through the CreaTech agenda and building the professional capabilities for a dynamic workforce.

With the convergence of industries like gaming and screen, driven by advances in interactive technologies, ScreenSkills aims to address the evolving skills requirements of both sectors.

By partnering with trade bodies, companies, screen agencies, educational institutions and Skills Clusters, ScreenSkills aims to commission cross-sector training that meets the changing needs of these industries, particularly as the convergence of gaming and screen industries reshapes their future.

To future-proof the workforce, ScreenSkills will share insights on emerging technologies like Generative AI and virtual production, building on existing initiatives. This approach will identify current and future skills gaps, guiding targeted training investments.

Consultation feedback highlighted the need for ScreenSkills to balance immediate skills gaps with future needs. Respondents wanted greater emphasis on building workforce resilience, as opposed to focusing solely on technical abilities and proficiency in relation to future skills.

Increasingly, the screen industries are seeing the importance of convergent skills that allow professionals to work fluidly across sectors like gaming, digital media, television and film. Skills such as problem-solving, creative thinking, and collaboration are critical, enabling career mobility and innovation across genres. This convergence fosters a workforce that is not only equipped with technical skills but also capable of thriving in diverse, evolving industries and facing the future for the global market.

As an independent convenor, ScreenSkills will unite industry stakeholders to address skills challenges, fostering an adaptable, well-equipped workforce while promoting crucial, cross-cutting professional skills such as collaboration, communication, creative thinking, information literacy, planning, and problem-solving - skills that will be critical by 2030.

Building on initiatives like the Unscripted TV Skills Fund’s Short Courses, Work-Ready Skills and the sustainability e-learning module co-developed with BAFTA albert, ScreenSkills will foster resilience, agility and versatility, while promoting skills in revenue diversification and sustainable production.