Research from the BFI shows that current growth in production will require up to 20,770 additional crew members (full-time employees) as soon as 2025. These film vacancies represent just some of the increasing career opportunities for young creatives in the UK.
According to research by the BFI’s Skills Review, the UK production sector is now unrecognisable from the UK film industry of just a few years ago. In 2021, production spending in the UK climbed to £5.64 billion, a rise of 63% (£2.19 billion) since 2017, with all signs indicating that the UK remains a high growth environment for film, animation and high end TV (HETV).
Up to 20,770 Additional Crew Required
“This boom in UK film production has led to increasing – and often critical – crew shortages at all levels, which are beginning to negatively impact the industry.
The UK’s huge success as a global production centre presents an opportunity for job creation, one which can benefit the whole of the UK. Research recently published by ScreenSkills and funded by the BFI through the Future Film Skills programme, predicts that continued forecasted growth will require a further 15,130 to 20,770 full-time employees by 2025.” BFI Skills Review
Skills Shortages, Training & Development
Within its findings, the research also highlights a need for stronger bridges between the film industry, education and other sectors, alongside the need for increased investment in training routes to facilitate the skills requirement needed to supply thousands of additional crew. “A mismatch between industry needs and education persists, resulting in new entrants who are not readily equipped for a career in production.”
The report also recommends “more comprehensive careers information, profiles and pathways. There is a lack of awareness of the breadth of job roles in the screen industry, and progression pathways can be unclear. The sector needs to continue to support efforts to improve careers advice across schools and in higher and further education.“
This isn’t news to us here at Sparks, where we hear exactly these sentiments expressed all the time by production houses. We know that the industry is crying out for new entrants with the practical, technical skills needed to support its ever-growing demand and fill the thousands of film vacancies.
We regularly hear that students emerging from film and media education programmes are typically under-skilled practically and underprepared for roles in the industry. They often find themselves embarking on years of further training as low/no pay interns, apprentices or on micro budget productions in order to develop the skills needed to progress in their production careers.
This skills shortage, the need for so many additional crew members, as well as the scope of the opportunity on offer are some of the reasons why we aim to ensure that our students have the opportunity to develop hands on, practical skills in filmmaking. Unlike many education programmes, we focus on inquiry-led, practical projects, with integral opportunities to try things out and to make mistakes as a way to grow their knowledge and experience.
By the time a student reaches Studio 5 classes (our programme for ages 15-18), Sparks Film School students have typically amassed hundreds of hours in practical production time, exploring and working within professional production models and gaining experience with a range of different filmmaking equipment. As part of all our programmes, students are actively making their own work and spending time in a production environment.
Many students leave our programmes at age 18 with practical skill levels comparable to – and even beyond – those who have been through undergraduate degree programmes. Even our youngest students (Studio 1, ages 5-7) are busy learning about camera skills and visual storytelling to prepare them for a future in which visual literacy will be essential for navigating a media-saturated world.
Our Filmmaking Syllabus, where students work to achieve graded awards in filmmaking, outlines the range of skills students acquire with Sparks Film School.
Over the last few years, in response to young filmmaker interest, as well as growing industry demand for additional crew, we’ve included more technical content in our curricula, including greater attention to sound, post-production animation and visual effects. We know that these skills will offer a world of opportunity to young filmmakers interested to pursue a career in film/media production.
