ScreenSkills recently hosted a Creative Careers Pathways Event in Media City, Salford which our Careers and Placements Consultant Katharine Price- Edwards and Placements and Internships Coordinator Sarah Batty attended. In this blog, we share some of the insight we gained from the experts at this event (and a few super useful resources too!) that might help when considering applying for careers in creative industries.
They have a selection of really useful resources that can help you plan your career path here.
SCREENSKILLS ADVICE
Margaret Burgin opened the event with a short presentation about the growing creative industries and current skills gaps that have surfaced. She discussed how the industry works mainly through outsourcing and that students should consider going through credits and approaching the smaller companies who are key players in the production of TV and film in order to access large corporations like BBC and ITV.
KEY FACTS AND TIPS
-600,000 new jobs by 2020 as industry grows 5x faster than general economy.
-Creative economy accounts for 1 in 11 jobs in UK.
-By 2020 total UK sales revenue for for games (£5.5bn) is expected to overtake total spend on books (£4.9bn)
-+16% employment growth in the screen industries (2013- 2017)
-More studios planned in Dagenham, Manchester and Birmingham
-CVs should lead with experience and be as concise as possible- creative industries like to be shown who you are and what you can do rather than told, so visual evidence such as show reels or portfolios are encouraged.
CURIOUS MINDS
Holly Ball, Careers and Employability Manager at Curious Minds, delivered a session which explained the kind of support that Curious Minds offer young people wanting to access employment in creative industries.
‘Our vision is for an equal society where all children and young people are supported to achieve their creative potential and live fulfilled lives, rich with arts and culture.’
Their goals are:
-To create access to the arts and culture for all children and young people
-To enable creative collaboration between the cultural and education sectors
-To work with schools, HIEs and cultural organisations to test and incubate innovative solutions to cultural and creative education
CONCLUSION
There are a range of opportunities available in creative industries that aren’t necessarily considered creative eg, HR, Finance, Construction,Administration. Students should demonstrate soft skills such as management and resilience because creative industries recruit for attitude then train for skill.
Curious minds offer Trailblaze placements and Arts Awards that can increase students’ relevant experience in creative fields.
Students should aim to apply for jobs with digital portfolios in small chunks which are relevant to that employer. For example: Children’s TV production companies want to see similar work in your portfolio.
Skills Forecasting
Caterina Branzanti presented her findings from their employer survey.
Main roles that employers struggle to recruit for film and TV:
•Production accountants
• Line producers
• Production managers
• Location managers
VFX and games struggle to recruit:
• FX artists
• Creature FX
• Animators
The main skills creative employers think applicants are lacking are:
-Business, Marketing and Communication
-Management and Leadership
-Problem Solving
-Fundraising Skills
-Social Media Skills
-Creative Digital Skills
CONCLUSION
-Students need to demonstrate their soft skills with the same passion as they present their technical skills.
-Networking and positive attitude are key.
-There are a range of opportunities in non-creative roles.
-Research is essential to locating roles, a good way in is to access smaller production companies that big companies outsource to.
-Filling industry skills gaps could be the way in, then navigate back to where you would like to be from the networks you build.
For more information visit the ScreenSkills website. To discuss creative careers pathways come along to one of our drop in sessions, every Monday 13:30-15:30 or book an appointment with Lucy Hutchinson through TARGETConnect.
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