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HUNDREDS APPLY FOR FIRST TV APPRENTICESHIPS
NEARLY 300
Northwest young people have applied for one of 20 TV apprenticeships
– the first of their kind to be offered anywhere in the UK.
Designed specifically for people who wouldn’t usually get the chance
to work in TV, the apprenticeships are being hailed as a unique
opportunity to break into the business and work behind the scenes of
the broadcasting industry. This week, the enormous task of
interviewing and short listing candidates began. Over 70 young
people attended assessment days at BBC Manchester, where they were
asked to complete a range of production and TV-related exercises.
Some of the biggest names in TV have joined forces to offer the
16-22-year-olds the chance to take their first steps on the career
ladder. The BBC, ITV Granada, Lime Pictures and the Red Production
Company are backing the ground-breaking Advanced Apprenticeship in
Media Production, which has been devised by Northwest Vision and
Media, Skillset, BECTU and the Learning and Skills Council.
“As this is the first time we’ve offered an apprenticeship of
this kind, we weren’t sure what kind of response it would get. But
it’s been phenomenal!” says Lynne McCadden, Managing
Director of Vision and Media, which works on behalf of the region’s
TV, film, radio and digital content industries. “We
believe that talent isn’t about where you live or skin colour,
educational achievements, gender or any number of other irrelevant
factors,” adds Lynne. "This is the first
opportunity for young people who don’t have GCSE maths or English,
to still be able to apply for an apprenticeship which offers so much
potential for their future career.”
Kate O’Connor, Skillset’s Director of Policy and Development agrees,
seeing the new apprenticeships as one way to diversify broadcasting
talent in the region. “With the Northwest set to become
one the biggest media hubs in the UK we are dedicated to a diversity
of talent, and the Production Apprenticeship scheme is just one of
the ways we can ensure this,” says Kate. “Even
before this scheme was launched we’d had interest from other regions
and nations, with both Yorkshire and Wales keen to run pilots of the
scheme,”.
The 18-month Programme, which will run from September 2007 through
to June 2009, will offer apprentices the chance to develop core
skills in TV production, with story telling and audiences at the
heart of all the work they do. Each apprentice will be paid an
allowance, in addition to receiving training and all the experience
needed to kick-start their career in the industry. In addition,
participants will be able to gain a Level 3 qualification while
training. Apprentices will work across a range of companies
such as All Out Productions, BBC, Centini, ITV Granada, Lime
Pictures, Objective North, Red and Sumners.
“The apprenticeship will develop skills and abilities in
various production roles, as well as allowing the trainees to learn
about all areas of the media industry,” explains Lynne
McCadden. “Apprentices will also develop invaluable contacts
and a wealth of practical experience across a range of different
broadcasting companies.”
At the end of the scheme, it’s hoped the apprentices will be the
next generation of industry talent. “There’s no guarantees,
but once the scheme ends the trainees will have acquired all the
skills and experience they need to secure work in their chosen part
of the media industry,” says Lynne.
The first 3 months of the scheme will be spent in college, getting
trainees prepared for their first work placement, during which time
they’ll complete the industry induction certificate. |
UNISON TO BALLOT NHS STAFF ON NEW PAY OFFER
UNISON, the
UK’s largest health union, is to ballot its 450,000 health workers
on an improved NHS pay offer announced. The new package gives extra
help to the low paid and, for staff in England where the pay offer
remains staged, additional money targeted at training plus a £38
contribution towards professional fees. There is also a commitment
to review future pay and conditions.
Mike Jackson, UNISON lead negotiator, said:- “Pay negotiations
this year have been dogged by the Treasury’s policy of restricting
public sector pay. This has led to months of long and tough
negotiations but at last we have an improved offer to put to
members. The package on offer is a complex one and will mean
different things to different NHS staff depending on where they
live. This is still a below inflation deal for most, but it is the
best offer we are likely to achieve through negotiations and we will
be balloting our members over whether the y wish to accept it.”
An individual postal ballot of all NHS UNISON members will be held
between 20 August and the 13 September 2007on whether to accept the
offer.
Details of the offer include:-
* From 1 November, extra money for the lowest paid. £400 flat rate
increase for those on Bands 1 and 2. Those on Bands 3 and 4 will
receive an additional £38 as well as the 2.5%. This will be payable
in all 4 UK countries.
* In England only, there will be additional money for staff training
targeted directly on those non-clinical staff who often lose out
when training budgets are cut.
* England only, there will be £38 paid to staff on Bands 5, 6, 7 and
8(a) who are required to register to practice. This money is a
contribution to their professional fees.
In addition to the improved pay offer for this year, unions,
employers and governments have agreed to enter into talks prior to
the next pay round, to consider improvements to the Agenda for
Change pay structure and its terms and conditions.
Mike Jackson said:- “This will provide an opportunity for
UNISON to pursue long-standing policies such as a reduction in the
working week and the abolition of Band 1.”
RAISING THE BAR - LEAGUE INTRODUCES NEW FAMILY KITEMARK
THE Football
League has introduced a new quality standard for clubs called ‘The
Football League Family Charter Mark’. The new award will be
presented to clubs that expand their supporter base by delivering
consistently excellent experiences for families and young supporters
at their grounds. This new initiative forms the latest part of
The League’s ‘Fans of the Future’ initiative, its first
centrally co-ordinated attendance building programme. Launched in
September 2005, ‘Fans of the Future’ aims to encourage the
next generation of supporters to watch live football at their local
League club and provides a range of innovative ticketing initiatives
for families and young fans.
Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney said:- “Through our
‘Fans of the Future’ initiative we are encouraging the next
generation of young fans to watch their local League club. With some
success too, so far more than 500,000 youngsters have attended
matches for free during the last 2 seasons. The new ‘Football
League Family Charter Mark’ represents a further step forward for
The League in terms of recognising and sharing best practice in this
area. Those clubs receiving the Charter Mark will have provided a
genuine commitment to attracting and retaining family groups to
their matches.”
In developing the new quality standard, The Football League
commissioned an independent assessment of the family experience at
15 League clubs during the 2006/07 season. Further ‘Mystery Fan’
exercises will now be conducted at all 72 League clubs during the
forthcoming season. These assessments will form part of the
criteria used to determine whether clubs qualify for the Charter
Mark. Clubs will also be assessed on whether their pricing policies
are in line with the spirit of ‘Fans of the Future’, along
with evidence that child protection and safety practices have been
implemented. Additionally, to recognise the best family
experience in each division, there will also be a new ‘Family
Club of the Year’ award at this season’s Football League Awards
(to be held in March 2008) for each division of The Football League.
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