Report sets out landscape for creator economy and reveals upskilling gaps
More support is needed to enable digital content creators transition into film and TV and vice versa, according to research from ScreenSkills and the BBC.
The co-published report highlights the growing convergence between the digital creator community and traditional screen sectors and emphasises the need for cross-sector input to support this. This includes upskilling for professionals in TV and film to shift into digital-first production.
Among the support needed for content creators is that, though digital platforms offer a lower geographical barrier to entry across the nations and regions, if creators want to move into film and TV, access to it is still skewed towards London and bigger cities.
The report noted many content creators develop their skills informally, through practice-based learning and peer mentoring. While this gives them foundational production skills, other expertise required to set them apart are platform literacy, storytelling, audience understanding and resilience. As profiles and business builds, the need for legal, IP, financial and employment management skills also increases.
It also warned of urgent consideration for content creators’ online safety and harassment, isolation and wellbeing pressures – especially when audience growth accelerates without appropriate support structures.
ScreenSkills and the BBC’s Creator Skills: Progression, Provision and Priorities provides an initial exploration of the burgeoning creator space, and aims to lay foundations for further research and analysis on digital content creation, which it says contributes more than £2.2bn to UK GDP and supports thousands of jobs.
Consultancy Olsberg SPI undertook the research, which surveyed 20 UK-based content creators, and consulted with 21 creators and screen sector professionals.
Lisa Opie, ScreenSkills’ executive chair, said: “This report shows that it’s crucial for the film and TV industry to convene and continue to champion digital content creators in the same way we support talent development and training within the wider screen industry, to enable digital content creators to build lifelong transversal skills and secure future growth in the sector.
“While the screen industry has really embraced the digital content creator community over recent years, this study identifies the need for skills training in safeguarding and business best practices can be put in place for the future.”
Dawn Beresford, BBC director of talent and skills, commissioning, added: “Content creators are redefining how stories are told and how audiences discover and engage with content, offering new opportunities for talent from every nation and region of the UK.
“This research provides valuable insight into the skills, ambitions and challenges facing content creators today. It reinforces the importance of supporting creators to grow sustainable careers, protect their wellbeing and access new opportunities. By working together across the sector, we can help ensure creators have the tools, opportunities, and support to thrive and bring their unique perspectives to audiences across the UK.”