Creative Clusters, Geography and University-Industry Links
This new report provides updated estimates on the spatial distribution of creative industries activity at the regional and cluster level.
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Geography of the Creative Industries
Creative Industries present huge investment opportunity
New research shows ‘high-growth potential firms’ outnumber both Life Sciences and Advanced Manufacturing.
High-Growth Potential Firms in the UK’s Creative Industries
This new report demonstrates that the Creative Industries account for almost a tenth of UK firms classified as having ‘high-growth potential’.
Creating value: the creative economy beyond culture by Marta Foresti
Marta Foresti explains the value of international cooperation as she becomes Chair of the GCEC.
Taking stock of the Creative Industries Sector Plan
We summarise some of the key sector-wide announcements from the Creative Industries Sector Plan.
What does the 2025 Spending Review mean for the creative industries?
A read out from Creative PEC Bernard Hay and Emily Hopkins On Wednesday 11th June the UK Government published its Spending Review, which outlines UK Government departmental budgets for day-to-day… Read More »What does the 2025 Spending Review mean for the creative industries?
Arts, Culture and Heritage: Recent Trends in UK Workforce and Engagement in England
Exploring regional discrepancies and a widening gap by class and ethnicity in terms of who engages with arts and culture.
All Together Now?
Co-location of the Creative Industries with Other Industrial Strategy Priority Sectors Dr Josh Siepel The UK’s forthcoming Industrial Strategy identifies eight priority sectors, including the creative industries, to be targeted… Read More »All Together Now?
Creative self-employed workforce in England and Wales
Dr Ruoxi Wang, University of Sheffield and Bernard Hay, Head of Policy at Creative PEC Self-employed individuals make up a uniquely high proportion of the creative industries workforce, as well… Read More »Creative self-employed workforce in England and Wales
What just happened to funding for culture in Scotland?
First the facts: Creative Scotland announced the outcome of its new Multi-Year Funding Programme on 30th January 2025. Over the next three years, more than £200 million will be provided… Read More »What just happened to funding for culture in Scotland?
Lifelong learning in the creative industries, part 2: the solutions
In part 2 of the blog, our Industry Champions discuss possible solutions to the challenges of lifelong learning in the creative industries
Creative Corridors: Connecting Clusters to Unleash Potential
Introducing the Creative Corridors framework.
With the right financial support creative industries could fuel the Government’s growth mission and help tackle persistent regional inequality
A new report published today by the AHRC-funded Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) says re-imagining growth finance could boost the creative economy and help tackle regional inequality… Read More »With the right financial support creative industries could fuel the Government’s growth mission and help tackle persistent regional inequality
Policy Brief: Insights from the Northern Creative Corridor Workshops Sprint
The Northern Creative Corridor is an initiative aimed at connecting creative clusters across Northern England to drive regional growth in the creative industries. Led by a coalition including the Royal… Read More »Policy Brief: Insights from the Northern Creative Corridor Workshops Sprint
Beyond growth: promoting inclusive development of creative clusters in the UK
The UK creative industries have been an economic powerhouse for over two decades, contributing £125 billion to the economy in 2022 and supporting nearly 2.4 million jobs. However, this growth… Read More »Beyond growth: promoting inclusive development of creative clusters in the UK
Improving economic statistics in the creative industries
Towards multi-regional creative industries satellite accounts In today’s ever-evolving economic landscape, policymakers are increasingly recognising the potential of creative industries to drive growth, innovation, and export opportunities across various sectors.… Read More »Improving economic statistics in the creative industries
‘One Creative North’ plans finalised at summit ahead of Convention of the North
30 organisations meet to set out a bold new vision for the north of England’s creative industries Today (22 February) representatives and leaders from 30 organisations will meet to set… Read More »‘One Creative North’ plans finalised at summit ahead of Convention of the North
Geographies of Creativity
A Creative PEC State of the Nations report Place matters when it comes to creativity. Where do creative clusters arise and what can policymakers do to optimise intervention? This first… Read More »Geographies of Creativity
New research calls for change in film, TV and games sectors to improve access and progression for disadvantaged young people
While the film, TV and games industries are one of the UK’s greatest success stories, new research calls for change from the sector to provide disadvantaged young people with better… Read More »New research calls for change in film, TV and games sectors to improve access and progression for disadvantaged young people
Press release: With coordinated action North of England based creative industries could add £10bn to the UK economy
Today, the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) and the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC), led by Newcastle University, say there is a ‘clear opportunity’… Read More »Press release: With coordinated action North of England based creative industries could add £10bn to the UK economy
Northern England’s Creative Industries
The Creative Industries are already a driver of growth across the UK economy. Export-intensive and major employers, they also attract significant investment from overseas. Large and small clusters of creative… Read More »Northern England’s Creative Industries
Press Release: ‘Creative Corridors’ can be the key to the UK’s creative industries’ ambitions
Today (Saturday 16 September), three major institutions announce a joint agreement to work together to determine the skills, policies and investment required to achieve sustained growth in the creative sector.… Read More »Press Release: ‘Creative Corridors’ can be the key to the UK’s creative industries’ ambitions
Press release: Relationship between creative industries and gentrification overstated says new study
August 2023 – It’s a commonly held view that the arts drive gentrification. Many city leaders argue that new creative firms and a growing artistic population can support economic renewal.… Read More »Press release: Relationship between creative industries and gentrification overstated says new study
Creative Destruction? Creative firms, workers and residential gentrification
A new study by Tasos Kitsos, Max Nathan, and Diana Gutierrez-Posada finds only a minor influence of creative firms and workers on neighborhood gentrification in England and Wales between 2001-2011.… Read More »Creative Destruction? Creative firms, workers and residential gentrification
Identifying and analysing UK fashion micro-clusters
The UK’s Fashion and Textiles industry contributed almost £20 billion to the UK economy in 2020 and remains a major UK employer with 500,000 jobs supported across design, manufacturing and… Read More »Identifying and analysing UK fashion micro-clusters
Press release: Landmark Creative Industries report says: prioritise creative education, end unequal access to the arts and focus on the regenerative power of the creative sector
27 April 2023 – Today, the Creative PEC launches a landmark report – The State of Creativity – reflecting on 25 years of creative industry policy, since the era of cool Britannia and… Read More »Press release: Landmark Creative Industries report says: prioritise creative education, end unequal access to the arts and focus on the regenerative power of the creative sector
Building sustainable regional music industry clusters
This report looks at the role the creative industries can play for the Levelling Up agenda, as well as the challenges the sector faces outside London and the greater South… Read More »Building sustainable regional music industry clusters
Too many demands are being placed on universities to support their regional economies, without sufficient support and partnership
The creative industries have long been heralded as a UK success story. The creative economy grew at twice the rate of the general UK economy during 2010-2016, resulting in the… Read More »Too many demands are being placed on universities to support their regional economies, without sufficient support and partnership
Live music ecologies in the UK: A local perspective in the context of the pandemic
In 2019, the UK’s live music sector was valued at over £1.3 billion. After almost a decade of strong growth the sector helped push the UK music’s overall GVA from… Read More »Live music ecologies in the UK: A local perspective in the context of the pandemic
Trade in creative services: scale, trends, and geography
Creative services such as advertising, publishing, and design are an important part of global trade. Their rise has been partly due to technology, which has made it easier to trade… Read More »Trade in creative services: scale, trends, and geography
Press release: Poorest areas excluded from Manchester’s creative industries success story
Research shows poorest parts of Manchester have few firms & little/no employment in creative sector 29 September 2022 – Manchester has long been considered a creative industries success story. It… Read More »Press release: Poorest areas excluded from Manchester’s creative industries success story
The role of the university in enhancing creative clusters
Universities are important for driving growth in their local creative industries. At the same time, the creative industries is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, and in… Read More »The role of the university in enhancing creative clusters
Creative clusters and sparse spaces: Manchester’s creative industries and the geographies of deprivation and prosperity
The aim of this paper is to ‘take stock’ of the creative industries in Manchester and to explore their geographies through analysing official statistics on employment and workplaces; in terms… Read More »Creative clusters and sparse spaces: Manchester’s creative industries and the geographies of deprivation and prosperity
How a placed-based employment programme is bringing creative workers back to Northern Ireland
The Department for Communities (DfC) recently awarded £4.7 million to Future Screens NI (FSNI) to create 72 three-year posts in arts organisations in Northern Ireland as part of the Art Work scheme.… Read More »How a placed-based employment programme is bringing creative workers back to Northern Ireland
Creative industries innovation in seaside resorts and country towns
Read our four page policy brief for key recommendations based on this research: Insights for Policymakers: Creative Industries Innovation in Seaside Resorts and Country Towns ______________________________________________ The creative industries in… Read More »Creative industries innovation in seaside resorts and country towns
Policy briefing: Creative industries innovation in seaside resorts and country towns
This policy brief is based on a PEC Discussion Paper: Creative Industries Innovation in Seaside Resorts and Country Towns Pre-pandemic, research suggested that being located in intensive, largely urban clusters… Read More »Policy briefing: Creative industries innovation in seaside resorts and country towns
Press release: What happens to coastal towns when the holiday-makers leave?
Could investment in the Creative Industries be key to year-round, economic development? Could investment in the Creative Industries be key to year-round, economic development? 1 September 2022 – As August… Read More »Press release: What happens to coastal towns when the holiday-makers leave?
How to use up the Levelling Up Resources
The welcome page for our Levelling Up resources for local authorities This collection of resources is designed for those working in Local Authorities (LAs) who are considering investing in their… Read More »How to use up the Levelling Up Resources
Levelling Up and the Creative Industries: Resources for Local Authorities
Data and evidence to help local authorities understand levelling up and the creative industries These resources are designed for those working in Local Authorities (LAs ) who are considering investing… Read More »Levelling Up and the Creative Industries: Resources for Local Authorities
Eight things to know about the Creative Industries
What are the Creative Industries? The Creative Industries are a diverse and complex sector made up of a variety of sub-sectors, from performing arts to computer games, and graphic design… Read More »Eight things to know about the Creative Industries
Creative Clusters Case Studies
Creative Clusters – Case Studies The creative clusters in these case studies share some common factors that can lead to success. For example, the role performed by ‘anchor institutions’ (often… Read More »Creative Clusters Case Studies
How Research and Innovation can help level-up the Creative Industries
The Levelling-Up White Paper produced by the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities notes that ideas and innovation are key drivers for rebalancing the economy. Since 2018, UKRI’s £56.8m Creative Industries Clusters Programme (CICP) has… Read More »How Research and Innovation can help level-up the Creative Industries
How can policy makers help rural creative businesses contribute to Levelling Up?
The creative industries have the potential to play a major role in the development of rural communities and businesses. Our new research, funded by NICRE and the AHRC Creative Industries Policy and Evidence… Read More »How can policy makers help rural creative businesses contribute to Levelling Up?
Mapping and examining the determinants of England’s rural creative microclusters
More targeted support could unleash the potential of Rural Creative Enterprises It is well documented that creative industries are clustered in urban areas. This leads to a possible policy bias… Read More »Mapping and examining the determinants of England’s rural creative microclusters
Response to the DCMS Committee ‘Cultural Placemaking and the Levelling Up Agenda’
This submission from the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre aims to answer the questions posed by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS Committee), specifically: Read the DCMS committee… Read More »Response to the DCMS Committee ‘Cultural Placemaking and the Levelling Up Agenda’
Supporting the Creative Industries: The impact of the ‘Preston Model’ in Lancashire
The economic geography of the UK is highly uneven, with many of the largest clusters concentrating in the greater South East of England and some large metropolitan areas in the… Read More »Supporting the Creative Industries: The impact of the ‘Preston Model’ in Lancashire
The relationships between cultural organisations and local creative industries in the context of a cultural district
This Discussion Paper was commissioned by the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) and delivered by AEA Consulting (AEA) in partnership with Professor Geoffrey Crossick. It explores the relationships… Read More »The relationships between cultural organisations and local creative industries in the context of a cultural district
PEC announces the launch of six new commissioned research projects
The research will cover everything from fashion and music, to migration and seaside towns The PEC’s open calls for commissioned research are a fantastic opportunity to develop cutting edge ideas… Read More »PEC announces the launch of six new commissioned research projects
Placemaking, Culture and Covid
In September 2021, we consulted a Panel of our Industry Champions on their experiences of the development and sustainability of ‘Creative Places’, and how policy can support this. This Panel was commissioned… Read More »Placemaking, Culture and Covid
PEC’s comment on the 2021 Spending Review and Autumn Budget
The UK’s creative industries – from film to fashion, and from video games to the performing arts – are integral to local communities throughout the country. This is in part because… Read More »PEC’s comment on the 2021 Spending Review and Autumn Budget
PEC’s Representation to the Autumn Spending Review
The UK’s creative industries – from film to fashion, and from video games to the performing arts – are integral to local communities throughout the country. This is in part… Read More »PEC’s Representation to the Autumn Spending Review
Createch activity in the UK
Createch is an emerging field that combines technology and creativity in novel ways. This report is a foundational piece of research that examines where createch businesses are in the UK,… Read More »Createch activity in the UK
The austerity decade: local government spending on culture
Local government has been hit hard by austerity. On average, grants from central to local government have reduced by 49.1% in real-terms over the period 2010- 2018, translating into a reduction in… Read More »The austerity decade: local government spending on culture
Creative places: Why we must invest in our local creative industries
Making the case for targeted funding to creative microclusters around the UK. The creative industries are engines of growth. One in eight UK businesses are part of the creative industries,… Read More »Creative places: Why we must invest in our local creative industries
Do creative industries generate multiplier effects? Evidence from UK cities 1997-2018
A paper examing the long-term impacts of the creative industries on surrounding urban economies
When policy meets place: ‘Levelling Up’ and the culture and creative industries
The UK Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda aims to address regional disparities in economic prosperity and the impact these differences have on “people’s lives through their pay, work opportunities, health and… Read More »When policy meets place: ‘Levelling Up’ and the culture and creative industries
Cultural brokerage and creative clusters
Future Screens NI and levelling-up in a pandemic environment Future Screens NI is one of nine creative clusters in the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Creative Industries Clusters Programme, of which… Read More »Cultural brokerage and creative clusters
Creative Radar 2021: The impact of COVID-19 on the UK’s creative industries
This is the second report from the Creative Radar series, by PEC researchers at the University of Sussex, and funded by the AHRC. The authors analysed data from a survey… Read More »Creative Radar 2021: The impact of COVID-19 on the UK’s creative industries
Creative places: Growing the creative industries across the UK
This is in part because of the economic importance of the sector: one in eight UK businesses are part of the creative industries, and together they contributed almost £116 billion… Read More »Creative places: Growing the creative industries across the UK
Mapping the R&D landscape for creative technologies
Creative technologies (“CreaTech”) will play an increasingly big role driving innovation and growth in the creative industries. The pandemic has only accelerated investment and interest in CreaTech, particularly in culture,… Read More »Mapping the R&D landscape for creative technologies
Response to the 2021 Budget: R&D, migration, skills and levelling-up
Our response to the 2021 Budget The PEC’s response to the 2021 Budget The creative industries – from film, to fashion, art, advertising, games, design and more – are a… Read More »Response to the 2021 Budget: R&D, migration, skills and levelling-up
Artificial intelligence, levelling-up and R&D: the PEC’s response to the Spending Review 2020
We analyse the Spending Review and the extent our recommendations feature in today’s announcement The creative industries – from film, to fashion, art, advertising, games, design and more – are… Read More »Artificial intelligence, levelling-up and R&D: the PEC’s response to the Spending Review 2020
Press release: Small engines of growth: New research finds over 700 small communities of creative businesses in cities, towns and villages across the UK
Study shows the importance of micro creative clusters as engines of local and national growth – The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre finds 709 ‘microclusters’ of creative businesses in… Read More »Press release: Small engines of growth: New research finds over 700 small communities of creative businesses in cities, towns and villages across the UK
Small engines of growth: Understanding creative microclusters
Think about a creative cluster: What comes to mind? Creative clusters are the buzzing centres of the creative industries, where creative individuals and companies mingle, share ideas, and shape the… Read More »Small engines of growth: Understanding creative microclusters
Creative radar: Mapping the UK’s creative industries
Major urban centres are the sorts of places we would expect to find creative businesses clustered together. Yet go beyond London’s Shoreditch, Manchester’s Northern Quarter, or Edinburgh’s Cowgate, and you… Read More »Creative radar: Mapping the UK’s creative industries
Evolution and trends of creative cluster research
A systematic literature review and future research agenda The geographical clustering of creative and cultural industries is a topic that has gone from being relatively obscure to mainstream in the… Read More »Evolution and trends of creative cluster research
Call for papers: Creative and cultural ecologies in European urban and regional development
Applications closed on 21st September 2020. An invite to take part in an online workshop and a call for papers The Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries at King’s… Read More »Call for papers: Creative and cultural ecologies in European urban and regional development
The importance of a UK-wide recovery plan for the creative industries
New research shows that following the global financial crisis in 2008 we saw an accelerated trend towards a greater concentration of creative businesses in London. This should warn us against repeating… Read More »The importance of a UK-wide recovery plan for the creative industries
The changing spatial distribution of employment in creative industry clusters in England 1991-2018
Understanding creative industries growth trends from 1991-2018 by mapping the geographical concentration and patterns.
Relatedness between the Creative Industries and the wider economy: A primer
The Creative Industries are seen as an key part of the knowledge economy, and policymakers invest considerable resources into developing new specialisms in the sector. The academic literature on local economic development… Read More »Relatedness between the Creative Industries and the wider economy: A primer
How policymakers can support local growth in the creative industries
As part of our research agenda around local growth, we consulted our Industry Champions on their experience of local policy interventions aimed at growing the creative industries. Our Industry Champions are trusted… Read More »How policymakers can support local growth in the creative industries
A first look at connections between the presence of creative industries and the wider urban economy
Creative industries have long been a focus of urban researchers and policymakers. There is a good reason for this: creative industries tend to cluster heavily in cities. In the UK, for… Read More »A first look at connections between the presence of creative industries and the wider urban economy
Looking at regional inequalities in the UK’s creative industries
The UK’s Creative Industries have been growing rapidly, both in terms of employment and economic output. They also make a valuable contribution to the UK’s balance of trade. However, our latest… Read More »Looking at regional inequalities in the UK’s creative industries
Mind the gap: regional inequalities in the UK’s creative industries
Using official Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Economic Estimates, this Discussion Paper examines the distribution and growth of the Creative Industries in the UK at the regional… Read More »Mind the gap: regional inequalities in the UK’s creative industries
Silence speaks volumes
The economic value of our creative industries is clear. But are they a priority for Britain’s political leaders? The impressive growth performance of the UK’s creative industries, from design and… Read More »Silence speaks volumes
How location impacts the creative industries
Location matters, especially in the creative industries. The area of work I am leading will be looking at two important ways that location impacts the creative industries: creative clusters, and… Read More »How location impacts the creative industries
The immersive economy in the UK
This report used web data to identify and map the organisations developing and applying new technologies in the UK. This report, commissioned by Immerse UK with funding from Innovate UK,… Read More »The immersive economy in the UK
Creative Nation
This report used official, open and web data to map the creative industries in the UK, their evolution, contribution to local economic development, the strength of their support ecosystems –… Read More »Creative Nation
Putting Creativity on the Map
Classification, Measurement andLegitimation of the Creative Economy This report reviewed how policymakers can use data to measure and support the growth of creative clusters. This report illustrated how measurement of… Read More »Putting Creativity on the Map
The Geography of Creativity in the UK
This report, in partnership with Creative England, used the latest data and official definitions to map the creative industries in the UK. The goal was to provide a data resource… Read More »The Geography of Creativity in the UK
Creative Economy Employment in the US, Canada and the UK
This report measured employment in the creative economies of the US, Canada and the UK. It provided consistent statistics on the US and Canadian creative economies in comparison to the… Read More »Creative Economy Employment in the US, Canada and the UK
Tech Nation 2016
This report was by Nesta and Tech City UK and produced in partnership with GrowthIntel. It was the most comprehensive analysis of the UK’s digital tech industries to date, and… Read More »Tech Nation 2016
Creative economy employment in the EU and UK: A comparative analysis
This report compared the size and growth of the EU’s creative industries on a consistent basis. It also provided consistent statistics for the creative economies (employment in creative industries and… Read More »Creative economy employment in the EU and UK: A comparative analysis
Geography of high tech and creative economies 2015
This report was the first systematic analysis of employment in the UK’s creative and high-tech economies. It analysed their size, growth and distribution across the country. The report showed that… Read More »Geography of high tech and creative economies 2015
Creative Clusters and Innovation
This report attempted to map the UK’s creative clusters and makes a case for a new approach to local economic policy. The study adopted the concept of creative clusters as… Read More »Creative Clusters and Innovation
Beyond the creative industries
Mapping the creative economyin the United Kingdom This report argued for a nationwide strategy to put entrepreneurship at the heart of education for the creative industries. There have been renewed… Read More »Beyond the creative industries