Question - and this is mainly directed at companies working in digital media, (by which I also include the games industry and social media) ..... how many of you were aware that Skillset works for you as your officially recognised Sector Skills Council, (SSC)? And who knows what your SSC actually does - or, more importantly, what it could do?
A trawl through the Skillset website will give you some indication, but - chances are - will probably also leave you feeling that perhaps Skillset can be doing an awful lot more for digital media. But, like any public agency, they need to make the case first - both to central government, to unlock further funding, and internally, to ensure the sector is seen as being of at least equal importance to the film, tv and radio industries that they have traditionally represented.
This is where the 2009 Skillset Census comes in - and why it is so important that media companies of all sizes and flavours complete and return the census and get their voices heard.
It’s tempting to think that ‘everyone knows’ about the size, nature and importance of digital and social media or games in today’s media landscape, but - as ever - anecdotal evidence really counts for nothing. As we know, future government policy, funding and support can only be based on statistical evidence, so it’s important that the statistics presented through the Skillset census paint an accurate picture of the size and complexity of the entire media industry - including digital - and, crucially, shows its impact on the UK economy.
This is like voting. If you don’t do it then you have no right to complain if your voice is not heard or you are not being represented. So please take time out to fill in the census here. And please repost, retweet or just tell your industry mates as necessary.