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Amazon has announced more than 100 new apprenticeships in organisations across the creative industries, doubling its creative industries apprenticeship levy funding to £2m.
This funds apprenticeships across the sector including the BRIT Trust and the Association for Independent Music and Women in CTRL; a Screen Skills flexible apprenticeship pilot to support both Amazon Original productions such as The Devil’s Hour and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power as well as funding apprentices on non-Amazon productions including Channel 4’s Derry Girls.
New analysis released today from independent macroeconomic consultancy Capital Economics shows that Amazon’s investments in the creative industries supported more than 16,000 jobs in 2022, ranging from directly employed in-house designers to indirectly employed external producers, and Amazon has invested more than £4.2 billion since 2010 across Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon Publishing, Prime Video, Audible, Amazon Fashion, Amazon Music, Amazon Games and more.
The new data shows that Amazon’s investments have contributed £4.8bn of gross value (GVA) to the UK economy since 2010.
Responding to the news, James Campanini, CEO of tech consultancy VeUP said: “Our creative industries play a vital role in driving economic growth as well as producing award-winning film, music, and literature. Yet far too many young people still struggle to break into the business, and this new apprenticeship programme will help change that.
Campanini continued, from graphic designers to content producers, technical skills are increasingly in demand, so equipping and training the next generation is a key next step to ensure the industry continues to grow.”
Prime Video today also announced the second phase of Prime Video Pathway, an initiative designed to open up access to jobs in TV and film, which will support 250 additional trainees over the coming years.
John Boumphrey, VP and UK country manager at Amazon said: “The UK has long been a creative powerhouse, brimming with some of the world’s most talented authors, musicians, actors, designers, technicians and more. Amazon is unique in the breadth of creative industries we support, from TV and music, to fashion and publishing, and new data shows that our investments in these industries have contributed more than £4.8bn to the UK economy since 2010. We are committed to supporting this vital sector, and we have more than doubled our investments in UK-based productions, skills programmes, production facilities, and more to power the UK’s creative sector today, and support the creators of tomorrow.”
Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Lucy Frazer said: “Amazon has embraced the huge depth of creativity and technical expertise in the UK. Its continued investment is testament to what we offer in film, music, fashion, tech and publishing. Many of its ambitions align closely with our own plans for the creative sectors and we are going to build on Britain’s status as a world-class creative nation and maximise their potential to unleash economic growth and create jobs.”