The Welsh government has launched a scheme to develop the country’s existing and future generation of screen industry talent.

Deputy minister for arts and sport, Dawn Bowden, has also established a new £1m fund to support projects delivering high-quality skills and training projects within the creative industries.

According to 2021 data, 35,400 people were employed by 3,423 businesses that comprise the creative industries sectors in Wales. This is an increase of 6.4% from 2018, while the industry generated an annual turnover of £1.7bn in 2021 — an increase of 14% from 2017.

The new Creative Skills Action Plan for 2022 to 2025 being launched today (22 Sept) has been designed to upskill the creative workforce in Wales. It will also consider long-term aims to ensure the country as a creative place to do business.

The Welsh Government”s creative agency, Creative Wales, will focus on three priority sectors: music, digital content, and film and TV.

Key aims include:

Supporting next generation of talent by:

• finding, supporting and nurturing Welsh creative talent
• ensuring the priority sectors are integrated into the classroom at an early age, making the sector a realistic and viable career choice for young people
• providing widespread opportunities for those wishing to enter the creative industries in Wales
• developing a creative workforce which reflects all communities of Wales
• addressing the disconnect between young people leaving education and industry employment needs

Supporting existing creative industries talent by:

• protecting and retaining the current and future creative workforce
• supporting the existing workforce with their career progression
• supporting future leaders and managers to thrive, grow and reach their full potential
• ensuring the creative industries workforce in Wales is equipped with the right skills for the future

Launching the scheme, Bowden said: “Wales has some of the best creative talent anywhere in the world. Through Creative Wales, we want to champion an environment where talent can be nurtured through skills development and creative companies can continue to grow.

“This will support our Programme for Government commitments, including delivery of the Young Persons Guarantee, giving everyone under 25 the offer of work, education, training, or self-employment and the creation of 125,000 all age apprenticeships,“ she added.

Between £15,000 to £200,000 is available for successful projects, until 31 March 2024.

This article first appeared on our sister site, KFTV.

The Pact image via BBC.