ITV is planning to stage editor and production manager 'bootcamps' via a central training academy it is launching today to support its own staff development and help plug the skills gaps across TV.
The ITV Academy launches today and the broadcaster has unveiled two trainee schemes it will deliver: one for make-up artists, runners, grip assistants and production assistants to work on to Coronation Street that it hopes to roll out to Emmerdale, and nine-month News Traineeship placements for 12 journalists from across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Jersey.
The bootcamps will follow later in the year and aim to upskill assistant editors and junior production managers into the in-demand roles.
prITV Academy will host all training and development schemes undertaken by ITV Studios and across the ITV group, and it will work with the likes of ScreenSills, the National Film and Television School and Creative Access to consolidate and streamline training.
ITV controller of content services Sonny Hanley has been appointed as the academy's director. He also chairs ITV's BAME network ITV Embrace.
“This is our response to the skills gap shortage,” said Hanley. “The idea is that we can build and retain a solid pipeline of diverse talent, helping existing talent get to the next level and bring fresh new talent into the business.”
“There are mid-level roles where we know there is a shortage, not just at ITV but industry-wide, in particular production managers and editors, followed by location and assistants and make-up artists."
ITV’s chief executive Carolyn McCall said the academy will help “to address the skills gaps within the industry as well as to encourage the government to allow the Apprenticeship Levy to deliver the growth in new opportunities it was supposed to deliver.”
Other external partners include disabled-led indies Beacon Films and Signpost Productions.
