The PEC is led by Nesta, the innovation foundation, and involves a UK-wide consortium of universities and one joint enterprise. They are: Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Work Advance, London School of Economics, Manchester, Newcastle, Sussex, and Ulster.

Our core research programme is focused on:

Geography of the Creative Industries - The Value of Arts and Culture - International, Trade, and Immigration - Skills, Jobs and Education - Intellectual Property and Regulation - R&D and Innovation - Diversity and Inclusion - Business Models and Access to Finance - Public Service Broadcasting

The PEC provides a step-change for our three main stakeholders - industry, policymakers and the wider research community - in the quality of evidence for the creative industries. We consult industry about the challenges that the sector faces, from its limited diversity, to skills gaps, barriers to trade, and local growth in the sector. We put these questions to our UK-wide group of researchers, and feed the evidence and policy advice back to policymakers. This unique model ensures that our research and policy recommendations are relevant, and meet the needs and priorities of the people working in the sector.

We work with a broad and inclusive group of partners from across the creative industries, including Creative UK (formerly the Creative Industries Federation and Creative England). Initial industry partners also include the British Film Institute and Tech Nation.

Our Industry Champions are a UK-wide network of trusted practitioners, drawn from all parts of the creative industries. The group provides us with guidance on industry’s most pressing challenges, expert insight to inform our research, and critical feedback on our policy recommendations.

Our International Council is a network of leading policy and creative economy practitioners from across the world, convened by The British Council. The group shares international policy intelligence and research opportunities, and acts as critical friends in reviewing and providing an international perspective on our activities.