Trade body for the UK’s vfx and post companies, UK Screen Alliance, has produced its own manifesto for the policies it wishes to see the next government pursue.
Amongst policies and changes that UK Screen Alliance is asking for is the call to enact the VFX tax credit uplift proposed in the Spring Budget 2024 whilst removing the Generative AI exclusion from the VFX tax credit proposal “which will cost jobs rather than create them.”
UK Screen Alliance is also asking the next government to bring forward the implementation date for the VFX tax credit to 1st Jan 2025 as well as to introduce an exclusion for VFX costs from the 80% cap on eligible expenditure in the new Independent Film Tax Credit
In terms of training and skills, the trade body wants government to secure the future of the NextGen/AIM level 3 16-18 Extended Diploma in Games, Animation and Visual Effects Skills and to further increase the flexibility of T Levels placements to allow more employers to offer them. It also calls on government to reform the Apprenticeship Levy to cover employers’ running costs for providing placements and to fund other forms of training and to fund further waves of skills bootcamps in the creative sector and reduce bureaucracy and delay in the bidding process.
UK Screen Alliance is further asking for the introduction of workplace exchange programmes to increase the quality of teaching at all levels of education by providing tutors with “real experience of current working practices and incentivise industry professionals to become part-time tutors.”
In terms of skill shortages in the industry, Uk Screen Alliance is also asking for the removal of the Immigration Skills Charge from Skilled Worker Visas in priority sectors and it wants to retain the Graduate Visa route and continue access to the Creative Visa for workers employed by VFX companies. It also calls on any government to refrain from capping overall visa levels
The manifesto also calls on government to block Channel 4 from operating its own in-house post production services and to review the contractual terms offered to post production and VFX suppliers by independent producers, who have been commissioned by the regulated broadcasters, to “foster a more stable investment environment for supply chain employers with fairer commercial practices.”
Animation UK has separately produced its manifesto, which can be downloaded here.
Jon Creamer
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