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Top producer to chair Film Industry Training Board

03 April 2008

Ministers have announced the appointment of Iain Smith OBE to chair a new Film Industry Training Board (FITB). The FITB will have statutory levy powers to ensure that companies across the film production industry invest in training, meeting the need for world-class skills in UK film making.

Iain Smith, recently honoured with an OBE for his services to the UK film industry, is a highly acclaimed producer, with blockbuster films such as Cold Mountain, Children of Men, The Fifth Element and Seven Years in Tibet being part of a long list of film credentials.

The FITB, the first ITB to be established in 20 years, has been set up at the request of the film industry following extensive consultation. It will oversee the delivery and operation of the Skills Investment Fund (SIF), a training levy for the film production industry which will move from voluntary to mandatory status towards the end of 2008.

John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, said:

"Investment in skills is crucial to the development of any successful UK industry. It is inspiring that the film production industry has embraced a collective responsibility for its own future training and development needs. I pay tribute to Skillset for working with government and the industry to support the establishment of this ground-breaking initiative."

Skills Minister David Lammy said:

"I am delighted to announce the appointment of Iain Smith, and look forward to working with him. By making an industry-wide commitment to training, the film production industry will continue to renew and expand its skills base, and will have a strong foundation on which to develop its global reputation for innovation and excellence."

Iain Smith OBE said:

"The establishment of a Film Industry Training Board is hugely positive for the UK film production industry. This gives us greater control of our future success. The Board of the FITB will be responsible for setting the training levy and deciding how the money is invested to support us continuing to have the most highly skilled film production workforce in the world."

Stewart Till, Deputy Chair of Skillset and Chair of UK Film Council, said:

"Iain's appointment is significant news for the British film industry. His worldwide reputation and his passion for developing talent at every level of our industry absolutely makes him the ideal person to lead the establishment of the FITB."

As chair of the FITB, Smith will head up a board of members, comprising representatives of the film production sector, who will set the levy rates and define which films will be in scope to pay the levy. It will be Smith's role to provide strategic direction to the Board, overseeing the running of the mandatory SIF and relations with industry and government over the levy.

Notes to Editors

  1. Media enquiries: Claire Timlett, Bubble & Squeak, T:+44 (0)20 7287 4261, E: claire@bubblesqueak.co.uk Oliver Fry, DIUS Press Office, Tel: 020 3300 8927
  2. Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media which comprises tv, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging and publishing. Our aim is to support the improvements to the productivity of our industry to ensure that it remains globally competitive. We do this by influencing and leading; developing skills, training and education policy; and through opening up the industries to the UK's pool of diverse talent.
  3. Skills Investment Fund (SIF) is currently a voluntary levy administered by Skillset for the UK film industry which has been operating since September 1999, in partnership with PACT, the Motion Picture Association (MPA), BECTU, the UK Film Council, and administered by Skillset. It is a mandatory payment for those productions in receipt of UK public funds (BBC Films, Regional and National Screen Agency Production Funding, UK Film Council Funding.
  4. ITBs are statutory bodies set up under the industrial Training Act 1982.
    Board appointments are made in accordance with the requirements of the Industrial Training Act 1982 and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). Mr Smith has been appointed for 5 years. The post is a part-time appointment of approximately 12 days per year and is unpaid. The Board will also consist of 8 permanent members; 4 employer representatives, drawn from the production sector; and 4 ex-officio posts, drawn from the industry's employer organisation, trade union, the UK Film Council and Skillset. The ITB Board will be in place by end of May, and the statutory levy will come into effect towards the end of 2008.
  5. The Film Industry Training Board will become operational in late 2008.
  6. For more information on the SIF please visit: www.skillset.org