YouTube, BBC kick off creator economy training program in the U.K.

Creators in the U.K. have asked for more professional services that can help them level up their careers. And YouTube has answered the call.

The video platform has teamed up with the BBC and the National Film and Television School (NFTS) to launch a multi-city training program catered to creators and other digital media professionals. Through a nationwide slate of workshops and events, YouTube and the Beeb are aiming to incubate a new generation of polished personalities.

The program, which kicked off in Birmingham on May 14, will begin with a cohort of 150 pupils. Not everyone taking part in the training is a digital-native creator; TV producers and journalists are also taking part.

Last year, YouTube pledged to provide more professional services for creators in the U.K. A survey conducted by Public First revealed a widespread sense of inferiority among British creators. 56% of survey respondents claimed they’re unable to have an impact on government decisions that affect their livelihood, and 43% said they felt unrecognized within the broader creative industry. Only 17% said they have enough access to skills and training, and a mere 7% said they have proper access to capital and loans.

Alison Lomax, YouTube’s Managing Director for UK and Ireland, said that the new program can address those shortcomings. “By launching this nationwide partnership, we are aiming to bridge that gap – providing the digital strategies and practical expertise needed to empower extraordinary talent in every corner of the U.K.”

Each of the partners involved in the program bring particular faculties to the table. Workshops will take place at BBC hubs in all four U.K. countries, and participants will experience the NFTS’ “world-class technical mastery” while benefitting from YouTube’s prominent position in the creator world. ScreenSkills, a professional organization for jobseekers in the digital arts, is also supporting the initiative.

The U.K. program joins a host of U.S.-based educational initiatives that also support aspiring creators. Institutions that have launched creator-facing training curricula include Syracuse University and East Carolina University.