Trevor Phillips calls for more diverse media industry
The Chair of the London Assembly, Trevor Phillips, sees the media industry as a key engine of growth for the capital but says that there must be an increase in its diversity. This was one of the key messages from the Chair and Skillset Patron when he launched a new interactive CD-Rom for careers advisors at Channel 4, yesterday. Last year`s Skillset industry census found that less than 7% of people in the industry come from ethnic minority backgrounds - compared with a quarter of people of working age in London where the industry is predominately based.
The CD-Rom was one part of a major project made possible by London Development Agency (LDA) funding of £194,000. The CD-Rom, developed by Skillset, will help careers advisors guide individuals through career options in the industry using a series of case studies. Based on industry information this innovative new resource will help individuals make the right choices about their next steps. It also links to other on-line sources of media careers information, such as the skillsformedia website.
Trevor Phillips, Chair of the London Assembly and a Patron of Skillset, said: "Even with the recent downturn in advertising the audio visual industries are predicted, in the long term, to be one of the UK`s biggest growth sectors. The number of people working in these industries is in excess of 200,000 and employment across these sectors is now higher than the water, gas and electricity industries combined. Around half of the UK`s industry is based, or works here in the Capital. However, our industry will not continue to thrive if it is unrepresentative of, and therefore unappealing to, significant sections of the London community. I`m very pleased to see Skillset working in partnership with the London Development Agency to produce such a high quality careers guidance product so that we can ensure everyone has access to the same quality information and advice, therefore creating a more level playing field."
Dinah Caine, Chief Executive of Skillset, said: "I`d like to thank the London Development Agency for supporting this project which has included the CD-Rom for careers advisors, a two day event for runners and training support for under-represented groups are just some examples of Skillset`s work in London. The CD-Rom is just one element of Skillset`s careers information and advice strategy which is implemented by skillsformedia, our partnership with the union, BECTU."
The launch of the CD-Rom was attended by key representatives from London`s public agencies, Heads of Careers at FE Colleges, Universities and the private careers companies as well as key media industry figures.
For a copy of the CD-Rom contact Kimberlt Klaus on 020 7440 0632 or email:kimberly@skillsformedia.com
The CD-Rom was one part of a major project made possible by London Development Agency (LDA) funding of £194,000. The CD-Rom, developed by Skillset, will help careers advisors guide individuals through career options in the industry using a series of case studies. Based on industry information this innovative new resource will help individuals make the right choices about their next steps. It also links to other on-line sources of media careers information, such as the skillsformedia website.
Trevor Phillips, Chair of the London Assembly and a Patron of Skillset, said: "Even with the recent downturn in advertising the audio visual industries are predicted, in the long term, to be one of the UK`s biggest growth sectors. The number of people working in these industries is in excess of 200,000 and employment across these sectors is now higher than the water, gas and electricity industries combined. Around half of the UK`s industry is based, or works here in the Capital. However, our industry will not continue to thrive if it is unrepresentative of, and therefore unappealing to, significant sections of the London community. I`m very pleased to see Skillset working in partnership with the London Development Agency to produce such a high quality careers guidance product so that we can ensure everyone has access to the same quality information and advice, therefore creating a more level playing field."
Dinah Caine, Chief Executive of Skillset, said: "I`d like to thank the London Development Agency for supporting this project which has included the CD-Rom for careers advisors, a two day event for runners and training support for under-represented groups are just some examples of Skillset`s work in London. The CD-Rom is just one element of Skillset`s careers information and advice strategy which is implemented by skillsformedia, our partnership with the union, BECTU."
The launch of the CD-Rom was attended by key representatives from London`s public agencies, Heads of Careers at FE Colleges, Universities and the private careers companies as well as key media industry figures.
For a copy of the CD-Rom contact Kimberlt Klaus on 020 7440 0632 or email:kimberly@skillsformedia.com