Creative and Digital Industries Funded Projects

Details can be found below of projects funded by the HLSP.

Liverpool John Moores University - New Media Production CPD
This proposal will develop a suite of CPD provision which will address the current skills gaps within the industry, particularly in reference to the development of the new Liverpool Screen School at Liverpool John Moores University, and on the current high number of independent production companies in the North West. The aim of this new programme is to produce artisans of the digital moving image; to create video artists with the creativity, the critical and technical acumen and the chutzpah to succeed within the video/broadcast industry, and within the ‘new’ media industries. The Liverpool Screen School will ensure that the region as a whole and Liverpool in particular will have the skilled and creative practitioners that the broadcasting industry needs in order to capitalise on emerging opportunities and technological developments.

The Manchester College - First Post North West
First Post North West is a scheme to help postproduction companies train their junior staff. It has been designed by industry to train new employees of different postproduction companies all they need to know to become useful members of their business. It is only for new employees in the industry and will be sponsored by their business. The aim of the proposal is the development of sector specific flexible learning to support practitioners in the industry sub sectors. This will involve framework specification for accrediting experiential learning and support for leadership, management and entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. By providing joint working and training / skills development with employers, Skillset and commercial training companies we will ensure that students and education providers can accommodate the developing postproduction industry needs.

University of Salford - Television Production Management
The International Media Centre and the School of Media, Music and Performance are leading a project which will establish a new employer led, flexibly delivered post graduate certificate (equivalent to 60 credits) designed to develop and train television production management staff. The programme content will be designed in conjunction with an industry panel and informed by Skillset research and independent training consultants. The programme will be delivered through a combination of industry professionals and academic staff and will provide progression for first degree holders and CPD for existing junior production staff.

The school already has extensive industry links and has partnership agreements with the BBC, ITV Granada and Channel M. It is intended that course delivery will make extensive use of specialist practitioners drawn from industry and identified by the panel. It is also intended that project work within the course is developed using current “live” productions that will relate directly to the workplace. There will also be opportunities for students, where appropriate, to access the existing post graduate documentary and fiction productions and the university productions for Channel M.

University of Manchester - Pilot Training Programme for In-Service North West Museum Staff
The Centre for Museology, School of Arts, Histories and Cultures are developing an ‘M’ level, credit-rated programme in partnership with the NW Museums Hub. Participants will gain 30 credits (the equivalent of a single MA module in the Art Gallery & Museum Studies Programme) from a tailored programme of taught and self-directed learning and a work-based project, in line with the University of Manchester’s policies for accreditation and APEL (accreditation for prior experiential learning). This has the support of the NW Federation of Museums and Galleries and the Museums Association, which is currently leading the development of a museum and gallery workforce training agenda on behalf of Creative and Cultural Skills.

The University of Manchester will develop and deliver a pilot training programme for in-service museum staff, in collaboration with the North-West Museums Hub, the MLA North West, the NW Federation of Museums and Galleries, and regional employers. The programme will be shaped by the needs of both employers and employees, with the aim of developing the strategic skills, understanding and capacities of museum staff in the NW, the increased emphasis on partnership working, and the sort of 'transformational' leadership that is required at all levels to strengthen the effectiveness of the sector in meeting its policy objectives.

An overview of the programme can be accessed via http://www.arts.manchester.ac.uk/museology/professionaldevelopment/

University of Central Lancashire - Meld Pathfinder
The Department of Journalism and the Lancashire Business School will collaborate with the Broadcast Journalism Training Council, The Periodical Training Council, Sandbox, Skillset NW, the BBC and Sky TV to develop and deliver this project.

Media convergence demands a workforce comprised of multi-skilled interdisciplinary teams creating cross platform content. This project looks specifically at the skills journalists need to embody that concept and participate as new content creators working across platforms, beyond the existing craft ‘silos’ in interdisciplinary teams. In close partnership with future strategists from the media industry and skills councils Meld Pathfinder will unpack the constituent parts of convergence to formulate an innovative training series aimed at up-skilling working journalists for the digital age.

The Meld Pathfinder modules will typically run over 10 weeks and blend short, intensive on-campus seminars with extensive online discussion and coaching. Each module has a level and credit value. Specific learning outcomes will be developed through the interpretation and practical application of industry partner requirements. They will be entirely related to the digitally converged journalism theme and will blend soft and hard skills from; ‘how understanding search engine optimisation may change the way you write’ or ‘how to make a flash movie’ to how to manage digital content creation process across multidisciplinary teams.

Manchester Metropolitan University in collaboration with Liverpool Community College and Wigan and Leigh College - Furthering Fashion
This project will involve CPD short course development for technicians and managers in the NW fashion and textile sector. Collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University, Liverpool Community College and Wigan and Leigh College will build on the experience and success of all three institutions and ensure that employees of NW companies involved in the design, development, engineering, production and marketing of fashion products and brands will benefit from education being embedded into the workplace.

After many years of successfully developing and delivering short course programmes for the UK and global fashion sector, the three institutions will build on their existing links with industry and ensure that these relationships are developed across the North West. This will include the development of a wide range of industry partnerships, including; Matalan, Littlewoods, Hilly, Reebok, Kirsty Doyle Ethel Austin, JJB Sports, Henri Lloyd, M&S, Next, Bhs, George at Asda, Hirdaramani, MAS, and Brandix.

The project will include the development of progression units at both level 4 and 5 and it is intended that these qualifications will meet the needs of large and medium sized employers and will allow the collaborative institutions to identify opportunities to carry out innovative approaches to demand led training.

Liverpool John Moores University – Cultural Leadership CPD
This project will develop a partnership based, employer led approach to CPD provision in leadership and management for the Creative and Cultural sector. The proposed project will entail the development of content and pilots that will test the content, approach and knowledge transfer between the sector and LJMU. Partners / employers will include Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Everyman Playhouse, Mando Group, Non Conform Design Ltd, Morris Hargreaves McIntyre, Tate Liverpool, Bluecoat, FACT, Liverpool Biennial and the Liverpool Culture Company.

Of particular relevance to the development of this programme, is the fact that the cultural sector is notable for a total lack of career structure except in the area of arts management, where there is currently a lack of highly qualified and experienced leaders to take on the principal posts and running of the major performance and exhibition venues, orchestras, galleries, theatre and opera companies.

The proposed programme has been scoped within the context of demand from employers for higher level skills provision. The target audience for the programme will be practicing managers and employees of creative and cultural organisations who are seeking to build on their experience to develop skills and accelerate or change careers. These managers may be sole traders engaged in managing their own enterprises or they may be employees or owners of larger organisations. The proposed qualifications will be Certificates of Professional Development (CPD) with a credit value of between 20 and 50 credits at postgraduate level.

Manchester Metropolitan University - Digital Development CPD
The current economic climate has exacerbated the need in the Digital Media sector for targeted training of employees to help businesses address their higher level skills gaps. In response to this need MMU are leading the development and delivery of an employer led, bespoke and targeted training programme aimed at providing a high level, industry focused up-skilling vehicle. Businesses are being asked to contribute to the development of this programme from the start by providing input on their specific needs and helping to steer the development and design of appropriate material. Training will be provided in three strands: Games & Digital Media, Web & Mobile Development, and IS Strategy & Project Management. Employees or those not currently employed in the sector but with an ICT background, can upgrade their skills through selecting units according to their individual needs. Units can be grouped by employers to create structured learning packages that meet their requirements.

Manchester Metropolitan University - Educational Training Programme for Orchestral Musicians
The proposed training programme responds to a well-documented demand for skilled, professional musicians to work within educational contexts across the North West of England. Working collaboratively with key employer partners, MMU proposes to design, deliver, research and evaluate a one year training programme which will equip professional musicians with a range of pedagogical skills appropriate to initiate, develop and sustain educational opportunities in a range of learning contexts. It will also encourage a strategic approach towards the delivery of orchestral outreach training across the region, creating a workforce that is artistically, technically and educational flexible, and also enterprising and employable.

 The University of Bolton – CPD for writers of Chinese descent
The project will design a specialist programme aimed at developing creative writing skills in emerging writers of Chinese descent and those from other areas of practice. The programme will consist of a 30 credit award at HE Level 4. The award will be a Certificate of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in Creative Writing. The award can be accredited towards an appropriate degree at The University of Bolton. The Chinese Arts Centre has been involved in the pre-planning application and in the development of this bid. It has identified the initial need for the project and assisted in outlining the course content in liaison with potential beneficiaries and The University of Bolton staff. The Chinese Arts Centre will have continued engagement throughout the project lifespan, assisting in the preparation, management and evaluation of the course and the validation documents, and in the promotion of the initiative and recruitment of creative practitioners.

University of Bolton – Script to Screen
The University is developing a CPD scheme that will target emerging screen writers in a programme of training which combines practical industry experience and mentoring with a range of broader learning outcomes. These will include training in marketing, business and enterprise, selling, IP, pitching, generating ideas and producing. Training will be supported by a range of industry partners and agencies. Employers are very supportive of the initiative and are interested in becoming actively involved in the development and trialing process. They support the idea of writers becoming more informed about the production aspects of programme making and are particularly interested in opportunities which will develop new ideas for new markets. They are willing to contribute by offering their time, master classes, mentoring and work placement opportunities and involvement in the selection of the applicants.

UCLan – Cross Platform Content Creation
As content is commissioned for multi-platform dissemination the role of individual journalists will extend to include commissioning for a range of 'value added' services e.g. interactive programming, additional graphics, photography and video etc. Their relationship with audiences will change. Networked journalists will deliver niche audiences to mainstream media. All Journalists will need a series of entrepreneurial, technical and creative skills to manage themselves and these new relationships. They will need to demonstrate a thorough understanding of future business models for cross-platform content and demonstrate they can apply new thinking in this context. This project will produce the toolset to equip future editorial content creators with the necessary conceptual, creative and technical skills to do this. Building on the process developed for the previous HLSP project and drawing on work done in collaboration with NWV+M and the BBC through inFUZE, this project will bring together key editorial, creative, business and technical staff. They will be drawn from a diverse range of media and creative companies who are looking to address the impact of digital convergence on the business of gathering, producing, editing and circulating content.