UK Music has today launched an online industry-wide skills audit in a bid to understand, evaluate and anticipate potential skills gaps across the commercial music sector.

Accessible via the UK Music and Music Week websites, the audit will run until the end of June.

The survey was developed in partnership with Creative & Cultural Skills who will analyse the data collected.

This will subsequently be used to help meet recommendations on skills and training made in Liberating Creativity, UK Music’s recently-published manifesto for the commercial music sector:

• That existing music companies, particularly micro-businesses, have the requisite skills to effectively compete in the current commercial music market

• To ensure music companies can attract a diverse and highly-skilled incoming workforce

• That Government ‘adopt’ successful industry-run apprenticeship schemes

• That further and higher education music business courses can meet standards established by an industry accreditation programme

• That industry will develop an industry wide diversity code of practice

Explaining the thinking behind the initiative, Feargal Sharkey, Chief Executive of UK Music, said:

“Improving access to skills and training was one of the key recommendations made by UK Music in Liberating Creativity. For the long-term development of our commercial sector, it is crucial that existing companies, and particularly micro-businesses, can survive and compete in an ever-evolving digital marketplace. Meanwhile, it is equally vital that those young people who aspire to work in our industry are diverse, highly-skilled and have under their belts a wide range of practical experience.

“The skills audit is a first step to achieving this goal. To take a snapshot of where the industry is in 2010, and where we need to go in the next decade. I know the members of UK Music are fully behind this, and I urge all those from freelancers to CEOs to take ten minutes to complete this survey.”

The initiative has already attracted support from across the industry.

Alison Wenham, Chief Executive & Chairman of AIM and Trustee of Creative & Cultural Skills:

“Changes across the industry have meant that everyone’s roles have been altered to one extent or another, plus new skills are needed in the digital age. If we can guarantee that all those working in the business receive the level of training they need and deserve, we can guarantee the future success of the industry.”

Ged Doherty, Chairman Sony Music Entertainment UK & Ireland:

“The most valuable asset of any company is its people. We hope this audit will inform a clear skills agenda and help identify areas where we can work together to champion and support further skills development throughout our industry.”

Jim Thomas, Longhouse Management and MMF Educational Committee:

“Developing people is fundamental to building a successful business. The skills audit is an essential tool in helping the music industry to ensure the we have the right people, in the right jobs, at the right time; helping us to maximise the opportunities the digital age offers the whole music industry.”

Mark Anders, Managing Director/ President of International, Bug Music:

“It is essential that we, working in a creative industry have the best people with the right training to help us build their careers and our businesses. We fully support the skills audit to help ensure that our industry provides the best possible relevant training, particularly at a time of great change.”

Please click here to complete the survey -  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DQC6RJ6