[dropcap style=”font-size:100px;color:#992211;”]T[/dropcap]he National Film and Television School (NFTS) has released the findings of a report highlighting the enormous impact its graduates make to the UK Film and Television industries. First established in 1971 and due to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2021, the NFTS has evolved to become a leading global institution, developing some of Britain and the world’s top creative talent.
The Graduate Impact Report was unveiled online today by President of the NFTS, Lord David Puttnam, via the NFTS website: nfts.co.uk/graduate-impact-report
The report, prepared by OC&C Strategy Consultants, analyses the exceptional contribution of NFTS graduates as a whole on UK film and television production over a five-year period* and demonstrates how graduates quickly take centre stage in an industry critical to the UK economy:
- 97% of the biggest budget ‘inward investment’ films have NFTS graduate involvement
- The School has a graduate employment rate of 93%
- Even though the NFTS graduates just eight cinematographers per year, alumni shoot 25% of all high-end TV in the UK
- 1 in 4 recent graduates are BAME versus only 3% in the industry overall
- Two thirds of all UK high-end television spend is on content with at least 1 NFTS graduate in a key role
- Over 50% of the biggest box office successes since 2015 have had at least 1 NFTS graduate in a key role
- NFTS graduates go on to become key creative leaders for much of the UK’s largest and most high profile film and television content
- 85% of UK broadcaster spend on high-end television and two thirds of all Netflix productions have at least 1 NFTS graduate in a key role
- NFTS graduates achieve success within a short window of time and go on to become dominant in a specific field
- Investment in skills at the NFTS can pay dividends within just 18 months. Similar investment targeted at new entrants can take between five to 10 years to pay off
(*Five-year period covers 2015–2019)
Director Jon Wardle commented: “The Graduate Impact Report has delivered findings that are simply unparalleled. The majority of all high end television has an NFTS graduate in a key role and yet, our grads make up less than 4% of the 100,000 strong UK Film and TV Production workforce.* No other single education institution or scheme can point to a record of accomplishment that has delivered talent and skills for the industry on the scale of the NFTS. Our success is totally disproportionate to our small size and I couldn’t be prouder of what the School and its graduates have achieved. Moving forward, we will continue our mission which is to produce the people that power production both in the UK and globally.”
(*Annual ScreenSkills Assessment 2019 Research)
Naila Scargill is the publisher and editor of horror journal Exquisite Terror. Holding a broad editorial background, she has worked with an eclectic variety of content, ranging from film and the counterculture, to political news and finance.
