Section 481 Skills Development

Our industry is building core skills throughout our workforce through Structured Work-Based Learning. Targeted skills development initiatives have built strong links between educational resources and productions engaging the Irish film industry. This has often been achieved through courses organised by Screen Ireland and taught by leading industry professionals. Yet there is no substitute for learning through practical experience on the job, for established workers upskilling and new entrants alike. As other industries develop competency frameworks for roles in their workforce, Screen Ireland now provides a comprehensive overview of the tasks and skills required of each worker on a production. Across each sector of the audio-visual industry, we can build on best international practice to make Ireland’s skills base uniquely attractive for productions.

• Creates a culture of learning and support on productions.
• New entrants receive on-the-job training and gain confidence in their role.
• Trainees and experienced upskillers are encouraged to continue their professional development.
• Supervisors are able to develop learning solutions suited to their departments.
• Addresses individuals' skills needs by tailoring learning plans to suit each skills participant.
• Measurable and trackable outcomes for learning progress and goals.

A good Skills Development Plan should identify the skills needs of a production and detail the steps that will be taken to address them. This involves determining the number of individuals who will be participating, describing the skills activities they be engaging in, and how their skills development progress will be monitored and reported.

It is recommended that each production should either appoint an individual or nominate a suitable crew member to the role of Skills Development Officer who will engage with Screen Ireland throughout the production as well as at application stage and compliance stage. The roles and responsibility for this person include:

• Overseeing the skills needs analysis process, the implementation of the proposed skills development plan, and the capture of data/evidence related to the skills activity carried out during production.
• Being familiar with the Skills Development Plan.
• Working with the skills development participants and supervisors to devise a training plan.
• Working with the skills development participants and supervisors to create relevant reporting mechanisms to structure and capture evidence of training.
• Liaising with Screen Ireland to facilitate contact with the skills development participants and their supervisors throughout the production to include set visits.
• Liaising with the skills development participants and supervisors throughout the production to provide support and monitor progress.
• Preparing the Quality Assurance Reports once the training is complete and submit to Screen Ireland along with all associated paperwork and evidence/data.

*Please note that the role of the Skills Development Officer is a skills related role and not a HR related role (unless the Skills Development Officer already assumes a HR role as part of their role on the production).