Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru / National Assembly for Wales Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chyfathrebu / The Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee Cynyrchiadau Ffilm a Theledu Mawr yng Nghymru / Film and Major TV Production in Wales CWLC(5) FILMTV01 Ymateb gan Sgil Cymru / Evidence from Sgil Cymru

1) Sgil Cymru is media professionals training media professionals. Established by television producer Sue Jeffries in December 2015, Sgil Cymru now employs a team with over 100 years of combined experience in bilingual media training and production. Based at Pinewood Studio Wales, Sgil Cymru delivers a range of courses from one-day practical workshops to long-term apprenticeship programmes, meeting the needs of the industry in Wales and across the UK.

2) Sgil Cymru’s flagship training scheme is the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media. The 12-month programme is the biggest new entrants programme for the creative industries in Wales, supplying new talent to employers including broadcasters BBC Cymru Wales, ITV Cymru Wales and S4C, and across the sector to Real SFX, Cardiff Theatrical Services, Orchard Entertainment and Sports Media Services and others.

3) The inaugural delivery of two Level 4 media apprenticeships – Marketing & Communications and Interactive Media – is complete, with apprentices employed by Golley Slater, Equinox Communications, Buzz Magazine and IT Pie amongst others. In partnership with Cardiff and Vale College and University of South Wales, Sgil Cymru are researching and developing postgraduate options, including a brand new level 7 apprenticeship to further widen access to media careers.

4) The success of the apprenticeships for both employers and apprentices has been recognised by awards from National Training Federation Wales, Business in the Community, and the Quality Skills Alliance, with multiple awards being won by BBC Cymru Wales, Real SFX, Cardiff Theatrical Services and ITV Cymru Wales, and one former apprentice being awarded the ‘Role Model of the Year’ award by the QSA for his achievements in the media since completing the

scheme. Sgil Cymru’s Managing Director Sue Jeffries is herself a winner in the ‘Assessor of the Year’ category in the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2017 and is currently a shortlisted finalist for the VQ Awards Trainer of the Year 2018.

5) For those already working in the media, Sgil Cymru has successfully delivered a number of short courses equipping professionals with the skills required to progress in their careers. In 2016/17, a package of three separate courses for new Script Supervisors, Location Managers and Production Managers were held at Pinewood Studio Wales. Sgil Cymru has also run a short course for 3rd Assistant Directors and workshops in ‘Movie Magic’, the industry standard software for TV scheduling and budgeting. Each of these courses were funded by Creative Skillset’s Film and High End Television Funds.

6) In 2017/18, a new ‘Stepping Up’ programme to upskill Welsh freelance TV crew was delivered, with bespoke training plans for trainees across the grades, co- financed by Welsh Government and Creative Skillset. With the increase in productions, both indigenous and outside, shooting in Wales, the need for upskilling and development of Wales-based crew has never been greater.

7) In order to aid the professional development of former trainees and production crew in Wales, Sgil Cymru offers one-day CV workshops and bespoke careers advice, all while tracking the career progression of former trainees. All of Sgil Cymru’s training offer is available in both Welsh and English at every level of career development.

8) The unpredictable nature of project funding and available finance for programme development directly impacts the future planning of training for the sector, but Sgil Cymru recognises the vital role training plays in maintaining a buoyant industry in Wales. While the ‘Stepping Up’ programme, for example, is testament to the positive impact collaborative working between training providers, independent productions, Sector Skills Council and Welsh Government can have on skills development, there is a recognised need to build

upon the success of these schemes and ensure that funding is available for planning and delivery year-on-year.

9) Sgil Cymru continues to develop new schemes, maintaining close relationships across the industry, ensuring the training offer is specifically tailored for the needs of a continually developing industry. By offering world class training to the Welsh media workforce, Sgil Cymru plays its part in enhancing Wales’ international reputation within the media production sector.

Please click on the below links for further details of Sgil Cymru training programmes.

Prentisiaethau Apprenticeships

 Level 3 Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media

 Level 4 Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media (Interactive Media Pathway)

 Level 4 Apprenticeship in Advertising and Marketing Communications

Cyrsiau Diwydiant Courses for Industry

 3rd AD Crash Course

 CV Workshops

 Location Manager

 Movie Magic Budgeting

 Movie Magic Scheduling

 Production Manager

 Script Supervisor

 Stepping Up

Sgil Cymru training programme partners

Ffilm, Teledu a Chyfryngau Film, TV and Media

 Amplified Business Content

 Bad Wolf

 BAFTA Cymru

 Bait Studio

 BBC Cymru Wales

 Buzz Magazine

 Cardiff Theatrical Services

 Creative Risk Solutions

 Enfys Studios

 Equinox Communications

 Fiction Factory

 Golley Slater

 Green Bay Media

 Horse and Country TV

 IT Pie

 ITV Cymru Wales

 Lockett TV & Film Transport

 Lubas Medical

 Made in Tredegar

 Orchard

 Photodrome

 Pinewood Studios

 Real SFX

 Regan Management

 Rondo Media

 Royal Television Society (Wales)

 S4C

 Screen Alliance Wales

 Script to Screen

 Sports Media Services

 Telesgop

 Thud Media

 Vox Pictures

 Wales & Co

 Wales Screen

 White Hart Multimedia

 Yogi Creative

Cerddoriaeth a'r Celfyddydau Music and Performing Arts

 Creative and Cultural Skills

 Wales Millennium Centre

Hyfforddiant, Addysg a Datblygu Training, Education and Development

 BECTU/CULT Cymru

 British Council

 Cardiff and Vale College

 Careers Wales (including Business Engagement Advisors in Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport and RCT)

 Coleg y Cymoedd

 Creative Skillset

 Diverse Cymru

 Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

 It’s My Shout

 Production Guild

 Quality Skills Alliance

 Welsh Government Creative Industries

10) In conclusion, in order to continue the collaboration illustrated above, Sgil Cymru believes that taking a more long-term approach to funding streams will lead to a greater sustainability for the sector, ensuring that training and professional development is not only supported sufficiently, but accessible to the entire workforce within Wales. Sgil Cymru would welcome further dialogue with National Assembly for Wales committees in order to ensure that the commitment to training is adequately financially supported, eliminating the short-termist approach to training which inevitably leads to instability within training.