The Growth Innovation Fund (GIF) is providing £1.5m to the creative and cultural sectors. Image courtesy of: Alessandro Paiva/rgbstock.com
Skills Minister John Hayes today announced the release of funds totalling over £2.4m from the
Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) to the creative and cultural, and nuclear sectors.
The
National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural will receive around £1.5m to extend its operations and open up opportunities for more than 1,200 new apprenticeships and craft training for young people across the jewellery, design and cultural heritage sectors.
The NSA Creative and Cultural also plan to reach around 1.2 million
young people through their careers information, advice and guidance material over the next 5 years.
It will work in conjunction with a number of leading organisations and employers, including the Goldsmiths’ Company, Holts Academy and the British Jewellers’ Association, the
Design Council,
Tate, V&A,
Arts Council England and the
Heritage Lottery Fund.
The creative and cultural industries contribute over £36.5 billion (in Gross Valued Added) a year to the UK economy.
The
National Skills Academy for Nuclear – with an investment of £920,000 – will expand its activities into nuclear manufacturing to help UK manufacturers take advantage of the opportunities offered by the new nuclear build programme.
The NSA for Nuclear will collaborate with
SEMTA and the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, based in Sheffield, to create a focal point to boost companies’ capability to develop skills.
Within its first three years the expansion aims to deliver a more skilled workforce, with an increase of 3,500 learners taking up NSA recognised programmes, including more than 500 apprenticeships.
In both cases Government funding will be matched by business and delivered over three years.
Mr Hayes said: “It is businesses themselves that are best-placed to identify the skills they need to drive growth. This investment is very good news for the UK nuclear and creative industries and will help them to overcome the
skills gaps that stand in the way of them meeting their full potential.
“The new centre for excellence for nuclear manufacturing will increase the number of opportunities for technicians and skilled workers and ensure that UK firms can source the skills they need to grow their market share in an expanding market.
“The National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural has already demonstrated its success in working with more than 200 employers in the
theatre and live entertainment business. I am delighted that investment will allow them to increase opportunities in the design, cultural heritage and jewellery sectors.”
Paul Latham, Chairman, Creative & Cultural Skills, said: “We have been building our skills academy for the last four years through our initiatives for theatre and music. It is only through the strength of our existing partnerships, our founder colleges and our industry members, that we were able to make the case for this extension project, which will enormously enhance our offer to young people and strengthen the skills base of a range of creative businesses, individuals and organisations.
“With this funding, we can now support the further development of higher-level, industry-led apprenticeships, careers guidance, specialist education and training, and new professional standards for all those
working in the creative sector. We look forward to working with a wide range of partners in this new three-year development period.”
The GIF was set up to help employers overcome barriers to growth within their sectors and industries. The National Skills Academies for Nuclear and Creative & Cultural Skills were both successful in submitting expressions of Interest to the Growth and Innovation Fund in 2011.
So far the Government has committed over £15 million to boost innovation and productivity, enable industries to set new professional standards and support new or extended national skills academies. Sectors that have benefited include; health, science-based industries, environmental industries,
renewable energy, employment services and hospitality.