RESEARCH PROJECT TO IDENTIFY THE CURRENT SKILLS NEEDS OF THE CREATIVE MEDIA WORKFORCE IN WEST WALES

Descriptions

Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for Creative Media (which comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging, publishing, advertising and fashion & textiles) is the strategic body, licensed by government and endorsed by industry, to develop the skills, training and education policy for the Creative Media Industries. Skillset Cymru, the Welsh arm of the council, is tasked with taking forward Skillset’s work within a Welsh context.Skillset Cymru has secured funding support from the European Social Fund (ESF) via the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) to deliver this research project. This research project forms part for a wider programme, Skills for the Digital Economy, which is to be managed and delivered by Skillset Cymru over the next 4.5 years. The programme has additional funding support from the Welsh language broadcaster S4C and the trade association Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru (TAC). The programme is also supported and guided by Skillset Cymru's National Board, which includes representation from BBC Wales, ITV, S4C, the independent TV production sector, the Welsh Assembly Government, the Film Agency for Wales (FAW), the trade union BECTU, trade associations TAC and Pact, and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW).The Skills for the Digital Economy programme seeks to develop and deliver flexible, industry-led, high level skills provision which meets the needs of Creative Media employers and freelancers working in West Wales and the Valleys, supporting the knowledge economy and safeguarding the performance and productivity of the sector in these regions. These regions include the unitary authorities of Isle of Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Torfaen. Please note that as a condition of the funding, this programme is not pan-Wales in scope and focuses entirely on supporting the Creative Media workforce in West Wales and the Valleys, where GDP per head in these regions is 7% lower than the European average. A key element of the project is to conduct research to support employers in West Wales and the Valleys in identifying and addressing the skills needs of their sectors at all levels, including management, technical and craft skills; and to match learning provision so that it better meets labour market needs in West Wales and the Valleys, thereby reducing skills gaps and shortages, and responding to rapidly changing industry circumstances which can create demand for new occupational skills mixes at very short notice.Skillet Cymru is looking to contract with an independent consultant or agency to undertake this research project, which will adopt a 5-phased approach over an 8 month period (April 2011 up until the end of November 2011). In the Tender Specification, you will find an indicative timetable with tasks, outputs, delivery dates and indicative price schedule. Please note that as the price schedule is indicative, there is some flexibility, and you may feel some stages due to their complexity require more work and manpower. We would expect consultants to consider all costs involved carefully and explain the rationale for any changes made to this indicative price schedule.For detailed breakdown of project briefing, please refer to the Tender Specification uploaded below.