From February 2012 Skillset Academi+, of which Swansea Metropolitan University is a partner, will be offering creative professionals the opportunity to develop their technical or business skills, network with industry professionals and improve their employment prospects on one of their new highly subsidised training courses.

Flexible, bite-sized, short courses are available in film, TV, animation, interactive media, games, radio, fashion, publishing and photography, and range from business development to high level craft skills. All courses will require 30 hours of contact time with industry and university tutors and credits gained could be used for future qualifications such as a Master of Arts degree,

The courses are designed and delivered by the project's higher education partners, Swansea Met, University of Wales Newport, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Aberystwyth University, in conjunction with industry professionals.

Each of the courses will have at least one established industry expert as part of the delivery team, such as Miguel Ferros who will be teaching on the Digital Workflows programme. Miguel has developed software for Avid and worked with major VFX companies in the UK. Linus Hoffman will be sharing his expertise in visual effects and CG on the Digital 3D Stereoscopic course. Linus' client list includes the likes of Ken Russell, the BBC and Disney. Frank O'Conner, Director of the Ecodesign Centre, will be sharing his passion for the environment on the Sustainable Design course. He has worked in, or as a specialist advisor to, multinationals, SMEs, government organisations, higher education institutions and non-governmental organisations in ecodesign, life cycle thinking and related issues.

Alex Leadley, Skillset Academi+ Project Coordinator, said: "We have an exciting slate of 30 courses which we believe will appeal to people working in the creative industries in the convergence areas of Wales who are looking to improve their skills and grow their businesses. From business skills to high level craft and technical skills, our courses have been developed by academic leaders and industry professionals alike to ensure they address all the skills and needs highlighted by our research."

Dr. Paul Hazel, Head of Digital Media at Swansea Met, said: "We greatly appreciate the opportunity to be working with Skillset and our academic partners on this innovate project, and are delighted to be able to offer a range of high-quality and cutting-edge courses to the cultural and creative industries in Wales."

These work-based learning courses have been made possible by the EU's Convergence European Social Fund (ESF) through the Welsh Government. If you are a creative professional in private sector employment or a freelancer who works for the private sector, and you live and/or work in West Wales and the Valleys, you may be entitled to a fully or partly-funded place on the course (conditions apply).

You can find out if you or your employees are eligible at www.skillsetacademiplus.org. Alternatively call Skillset Academi+ on 02920 480 344 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Published: Friday 3rd February 2012