By Shukry Rashid
Freelancers in the creative industry can look forward to more opportunities to upgrade and deepen their skills with the launch of a suite of initiatives by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and NTUC U Creative.
One key initiative is the Attach and Train Programme (ATP), which is in line with NTUC U Creative’s aim to provide media professionals with opportunities for growth. The programme will be supported by a series of workshops to equip freelancers with essential business and industry skills.
The programme was launched at the Creative Freelancers Bootcamp on 29 June 2016 at *SCAPE where NTUC Secretary-General (SG) Chan Chun Sing was the guest of honour.
Also announced on the same day were a series of industry-relevant courses in disciplines such as Animation, Design, and Film and TV developed in collaboration with industry partners and NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute).
Relying on Freelancers
The ATP works by attaching freelancers to companies for a period of one to six months to work on projects while they undergo on-the-job training with an appointed mentor.
As a pilot, the ATP plans to benefit 20 freelancers over the next two years. Positions available include assistant directors, assistant producers and graphics designers.
WDA has appointed the Association of Independent Producers Singapore as the programme manager. The latter will screen and match suitable candidates to a participating host company based on job fit.
SG Chan said: “Within the U Creative network, a creative freelancer can tap on our Labour Movement to stay in the know of industry trends, upgrade themselves and deepen skills as well as share information, resources and experiences.
“Together with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), we have launched the Attach and Train Programme to develop and deepen the skills of our creative freelancers by matching suitable freelancers to creative projects offered by MNC [multinational company] employers in our U Circle of Friends network.”
Source: NTUC This Week
