Screen Scotland outlines jobs growth roadmap

Screen Scotland has set out a plan to establish a “sustainable centre of gravity” for film and TV with an ambition to have 17,000 people in full-time jobs by 2030.

The agency has published a six-year plan to grow the Scottish screen industry into a £1bn sector within six years – 55% up on the most recent figure.

Freelancer wellbeing will be addressed within a skills and training plan to support crew and talent to have a sustainable career in the Scottish screen industry, with a year-round pipeline of productions. As part of this, it is looking at whether to implement an eight-hour working day.

The Scottish screen industry currently employs 10,860 and the agency’s goal for 2030 represents a 57% growth target.

The strategy also advocates for IP ownership to be part of Ofcom’s definition of the PSBs’ ‘Scottish’ productions, with the ‘volume and value’ of the regulators quotas proportionate to each production’s economic impact.

Screen Scotland said it will prioritise ambitious and locally originated projects through targeted development and production funding and editorial support.

It also aims to establish a film and screen curriculum for Scottish schools to present the sector’s cultural worth and potential career path to young people.

Screen Scotland director David Smith said the strategy represents a “doubling down” on creative origination.

He said the agency is “supporting Scotland’s creative talent to develop the skills, relationships, and opportunities they need to make their best work, alongside an understanding of how to bring those projects successfully to market”.