James Bond and Coronation Street Benefit from £16m Government Skills Fund

The UK government has unveiled £16m of funding to boost skills in the creative industries, helping develop the filmmakers of the future.

The Business Secretary Vince Cable explained that the government will work with employers from across the creative industries to inspire and support young people to follow in the footsteps of the country's creative heavyweights.

The funding from the Employer Ownership of Skills pilot will see the government and industry co-invest in developing the current and future creative workforce in England.

"The creative industries play a key role in the UK economy," said Cable. British fashion designers, publishers, software developers, TV and filmmakers have put the UK on the world map with their creative talent.

"They have also played a big part in driving our economic recovery."

The Business Secretary also claimed that UK creative industries generate £71bn ($29.1bn, €21.3bn) in revenue each year and support 1.71 million jobs.

A specialist studio management diploma run by Pinewood Studios (the production firm behind James Bond), with Amersham and Wycombe College, will be supported the fund.

In addition, the investment will also support a Manchester based ITV soaps training programme for new trainees working on Coronation Street and Emmerdale productions.

"The UK is increasingly the destination of choice for film and high television producers because of its talent, in front and behind the camera, and the studio infrastructure," said Ivan Dunleavy, chief executive of Pinewood Studios.

"We are looking forward to getting access to this much needed new talent and training the next generation of studio managers."