Key Points from the CCIS Skillsgap Roundtable

A few weeks back I attended a roundtable discussion on Skills Gaps within the creative industries. The event was facilitated by CCIS (Cultural and Creative Industries Skillnet) and attended by a vibrant mix of creatives from across the wider creative industries.

Throughout the day I enjoyed a lot of discussions on cross-disciplinary collaboration. It became clear to me that while our sectors may differ, many of the challenges we face- whether in animation, games, or film- are surprisingly similar. By bringing people together across disciplines, we can gain fresh perspectives and uncover shared solutions.

One of the most prominent themes throughout the day was the ever-evolving role of AI. Across disciplines, attendees discussed how to grasp AI in a way that enhances workflows without compromising the heart of creativity. There was a clear call to explore how we can use these tools safely, ethically, and efficiently- while ensuring that creatives remain empowered.

This sparked broader discussions around the need for clear AI safety policies across the wider industry. The value of change management training was discussed, and this idea stood out to me for its potential to help employees adapt confidently to this shifting digital landscape.

Another recurring challenge discussed was that of knowledge sharing and retention. This really resonated with me, especially in the context of ongoing work at our studio to build a robust learning resource library. While it’s not quite ready to be shared publicly, it was interesting to see how aligned our internal efforts are with wider industry needs, and it reminded me of the benefits of meetups like this.

The CCIS team has recently published some follow-up materials that I look forward to diving into, and I left the event feeling energised and full of food for thought – especially as to how we can grow stronger by learning from each other.

Huge thanks to CCIS for an inspiring day of conversation, collaboration, and reflection on the evolving world of the creative sector.