The Minister with responsibility for Culture, my right hon. Friend the member for Barking (Margaret Hodge), and I have had a number of conversations with colleagues across Government regarding the development of skills in the creative industries including the digital media sector. In particular, we have met the Secretary of State for Universities, Innovation and Skills and the Minister with responsibility for Skills, my hon. friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr. Lammy), to look at how we can meet our aim for employers to create 5,000 new apprenticeship places in the creative industries by 2013.
My Department is also working with employers, sector skills councils, trade associations, the Learning and Skills Council and other Government Departments to establish high quality innovative new places of learning, such as the planned National Skills Academy for the creative sectors in Thurrock.