Creative Skillset: ‘Don’t miss out on government skills fund’

Creative Skillset has urged the games industry to take advantage of the Skills Investment Fund that is currently available from the UK government – before time runs out.

Speaking at today’s TIGA Games Summit, the oragnisation’s Gina Jackson stressed that the is only one year left to apply for this fund. It has already been available for a year.

The Skills Investment Fund is an industry investment fund for skills, talent and business development available to the film, high-end TV, animation, games and VFX industries. It is primarily to help studios source and train talent, and Jackson stressed that the size of the studio doesn’t matter – the fund is available to the entire industry.

“Don’t lost this opportunity,” she said. “We need to make sure games’ voice is as loud as the others. The other industries have been very good at spending this money.”

Each industry under the Skills Investment Fund has its own council, with the games council currently chaired by industry veteran Ian Livingstone. As of next month, it will be chaired by Ubisoft Reflections’ Giselle Stewart.

Jackson also revealed that the council is looking for new members. All council members need to commit to is two hours per quarter to discuss how the fund is being spent.

If you are interested in joining the council, or would like to find out more about the fund and how to apply for it, contact games@creativeskillset.org or visit www.creativeskillset.org/sif.