Mike Hurst joins Creative Skillset

He said: “It is a real challenge for businesses, large and small, to ensure their staff are skilled across multiple platforms and disciplines within this fast moving sector. To remain globally competitive they need to be constantly adjusting to and exploiting the opportunities that new technologies provide, requiring continued learning, training and development for their workforce. Another challenge for creative firms, particularly start-ups and SME’s, is around commercial management and leadership.

“Bringing together businesses into industry partnerships achieves economies of scale for training, promotes best practice and will address the urgent skills gaps within our industries. I look forward to meeting and working with businesses across the fashion and textiles, publishing, advertising and marketing communications, and entertainment media industries to drive forward skills and talent and help our industries to remain world beating.”

Dinah Caine CBE, Chief Executive of Creative Skillset added: “It is a real pleasure to welcome Mike to Creative Skillset. He brings a wealth of experience to the role and will be a great asset to the team. The Government has placed greater emphasis on employer ownership of skills and industrial partnerships and Mike will be integral to our goal of developing strong skills partnerships that are of long term value to all areas of the Creative Industries.”

He has woked at the BBC, ITN, Sky and his own brand consultancy.