Guaranteed income for artists: what are we trying to change, and for whom?
As Scotland designs its minimum-income pilot for artists, Doug Noonan and Joanna Woronkowicz look to Ireland and New York for lessons.
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Skills, Jobs and Education
Measure what matters: Priority pathways and Creative Higher Education
Bernard Hay, Creative PEC’s Policy Director, investigates the surprising absence of creative subjects from the DfE and DWP’s new ‘priority pathways’.
Major new study finds creative employers are ambitious for growth but hampered by an outdated skills system
A new study published today by Creative PEC and Work Advance is being called a ‘watershed moment’ for the creative industries.
Creative Industries Skills Audits
This sector-wide study by Creative PEC and Work Advance unveils the current and future skills needs of the creative industries.
Training for managers in the creative industries is 11% lower than across the wider UK economy
New research finds there is significant room for improvement in management practices in the creative industries.
Management Practices in the Creative Industries
New research shows that training for managers in the creative industries is 11% lower than across the wider UK economy.
Analysis of over 168 million job postings suggests that Generative AI has not reduced demand for creativity skills
AI is redefining rather than replacing the need for creativity, according to new research published today.
Demand for Creativity and AI Skills in the Post-ChatGPT Labour Market
This study examines the evolving relationship between employer demand for creativity and AI skills in the UK labour market.
Who Stays and Who Leaves? Mapping Arts, Culture and Heritage Careers
Exit rates from the sector are higher compared with other sectors. Freelancers form the vital backbone. Download the report.
Creative industries employers’ perspectives on skills initiatives: 2025
Rapid technological advances and an ageing population requires a more robust talent pipeline and investment in lifelong learning.
Taking stock of the Creative Industries Sector Plan
We summarise some of the key sector-wide announcements from the Creative Industries Sector Plan.
Why higher education matters to the arts, culture and heritage sectors
Professor Dave O’Brien, Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries at University of Manchester, Dr Mark Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Methods at University of Sheffield and Dr Ruoxi Wang, Research… Read More »Why higher education matters to the arts, culture and heritage sectors
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?
Highly skilled, international talent helps fuel UK creative industries growth, finds new report
Embargoed 9am (UK time) Tuesday 10 June 2025 As the dust settles on the UK government’s Immigration White Paper, the creative industries reflect on what tighter restrictions might mean. New… Read More »Highly skilled, international talent helps fuel UK creative industries growth, finds new report
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.
Why accredited qualifications matter in journalism
Journalism occupations are included on the DCMS’s list of Creative Occupations and, numbering around 83,000, comprise about four per cent of the total employed in Creative Occupations[1]. In today’s fast-paced… Read More »Why accredited qualifications matter in journalism
Higher Education and the Arts and Culture Sectors
A Creative PEC State of the Nations Report In this report, we consider the important role that higher education (HE) plays in supplying the talent needs of the arts and… Read More »Higher Education and the Arts and Culture Sectors
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
Make Freelancing Pay
New research shows innovative tax and benefits policies could transform UK Screen Industry freelancers’ livelihoods. The research reveals that innovative tax and benefits policies could dramatically improve financial security for… Read More »Make Freelancing Pay
Skills Mismatches in the UK’s Creative Industries
A Creative PEC State of the Nations Report The rapid growth of the UK’s creative industries has earned them a place in the UK government’s Industrial Strategy as a priority… Read More »Skills Mismatches in the UK’s Creative Industries
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
Lifelong learning in the creative industries – part 1: the challenges
Our Industry Champions discussed the challenges faced in creative industries education and lifelong learning at the recent roundtable.
Curriculum Review Call for Evidence – Creative PEC Submission
Introduction Creative PEC provided a limited response to the UK Government’s Curriculum Review which closed in November 2024. While our work has not historically looked at curriculum issues in detail,… Read More »Curriculum Review Call for Evidence – Creative PEC Submission
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
Creative Further Education in the four UK nations
Our fourth State of the Nations report looks at student participation in creative further education (FE) across all four UK nations and shows that there is a severe drop in… Read More »Creative Further Education in the four UK nations
Arts, Culture and Heritage: Audiences and Workforce
A Creative PEC State of the Nations Report Arts, culture and heritage play a vital role in the UK, enriching society and generating new ideas, while also significantly contributing to… Read More »Arts, Culture and Heritage: Audiences and Workforce
Improving young people’s access and progression in work in film, TV and games
Young people can face significant barriers to achieving their full potential in UK society. Disparities in educational and employment outcomes between disadvantaged young people and their peers are well-evidenced and… Read More »Improving young people’s access and progression in work in film, TV and games
Creative diversity in higher education
As the APPG for Creative Diversity launches their annual report, ‘Making the Creative Majority’, Alice Kent looks at the findings and discusses some of the Creative PEC’s research on diversity in the… Read More »Creative diversity in higher education
Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s British Film and High-End Television Inquiry
Creative PEC’s Response Executive Summary In this submission, the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) addresses several of the questions posed by the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS)… Read More »Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s British Film and High-End Television Inquiry
Authors’ Earnings in the UK
This policy briefing sets out areas for possible policy action, proposed by the researchers at CREATe who conducted a survey of UK writers for the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society… Read More »Authors’ Earnings in the UK
Could the UK be a creative haven for writers? With support from policymakers, yes, says new report
17 August 2023 – The latest Authors’ Earnings Survey, from researchers at the CREATe Research Centre at the University of Glasgow, made for concerning reading. Author income is in sharp… Read More »Could the UK be a creative haven for writers? With support from policymakers, yes, says new report
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
Press release: Growing skills shortage & international trade decline post-Brexit
NEWS RELEASE Download the Press ReleaseEmbargoed: 00.01 UK time Thursday 30th March Two papers published today by the AHRC-funded Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) point to worrying trends… Read More »Press release: Growing skills shortage & international trade decline post-Brexit
The PEC’s response to the 2023 Spring Budget
The creative industries are a vital part of the UK economy. There are, however, some continued challenges that limit the sector’s growth. Yesterday’s Spring Budget addressed a number of these critical… Read More »The PEC’s response to the 2023 Spring Budget
Press release: Major review of job quality in the Creative Industries
Published today: 23rd February 2023 Download the Press Release The Creative Industries – from fashion and film to video games and visual arts – are a UK success story. The… Read More »Press release: Major review of job quality in the Creative Industries
The Good Work Review
The Good Work Review is the first examination of job quality across the entire creative industries. The Review is based on 40 separate indicators, from evidence submitted by 120 organisations,… Read More »The Good Work Review
Work Advance & PEC oral evidence to House of Lords: Creative Futures 2022
The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the future of the UK’s creative industries – Creative Futures. The Committee has invited written and oral… Read More »Work Advance & PEC oral evidence to House of Lords: Creative Futures 2022
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
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
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?
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
How to find out more about your local Creative Industries
How those bidding for levelling up funds can find out more about their local Creative Industries Although there are useful national and regional statistics publicly available to those bidding for… Read More »How to find out more about your local Creative Industries
Class inequality in the Creative Industries is rooted in unequal access to arts and cultural education
There is an incoherence at the heart of government policy. While Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries is calling for more social diversity in the arts, the Department for Education is pursuing… Read More »Class inequality in the Creative Industries is rooted in unequal access to arts and cultural education
Take part in the PEC’s Good Work Review
A call for evidence about the quality of work in the creative sector Call for Evidence Deadline for responses: 5pm Friday 29 April 2022 Download the Call for Evidence form… Read More »Take part in the PEC’s Good Work Review
Press release: New independent review marks vital opportunity to improve working conditions in the Creative Industries
PEC launches six-week Call for Evidence for submissions on job quality and working practices Monday 21 March 2022 – The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) has today launched a… Read More »Press release: New independent review marks vital opportunity to improve working conditions in the Creative Industries
Differences in creativity across Art and STEM: We are more alike than unalike
There is a rapidly growing body of international evidence(1) that skills such as creative problem solving and the ability to develop novel solutions, will be amongst those in greatest demands in… Read More »Differences in creativity across Art and STEM: We are more alike than unalike
Creative education is vital to a post Covid-19 recovery
Press release: New research involving over 7,000 secondary school teachers finds creative subject teachers lead the way in preparing students for employment, and that a creative education supports well-being Research… Read More »Creative education is vital to a post Covid-19 recovery
Enhancing creative education
Creative education, which covers a wide array of subjects, from art and design, to media, dance and music, plays a crucial role in preparing the next generation of innovative workers.… Read More »Enhancing creative education
What value Higher Education?
Education is an investment, and not just in a narrow financial sense. It is often life changing, and certainly has been for my family. It opens the door to the… Read More »What value Higher Education?
Wired! How 24/7 culture can put pressure on social media employees in the creative industries
What can professional networks, industry, funders and policy-makers do to ensure that digital workers are better supported? The pandemic led to huge pressure on creative industry employees who have responsibility… Read More »Wired! How 24/7 culture can put pressure on social media employees in the creative industries
How to design a creative higher education system that supports economic needs
As the UK emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government is faced with important policy decisions about where and how to direct future interventions and funding. One area where this… Read More »How to design a creative higher education system that supports economic needs
Growth through skills: Lessons from the Thames Estuary Production Corridor
This discussion paper is a case study for how to drive growth within creative clusters through investment into skills. The project, from researchers at Work Advance, explores investment into skills… Read More »Growth through skills: Lessons from the Thames Estuary Production Corridor
Plugging the Data Gap: Freelance Workers in the Creative Industries
The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the lack of available data on the self-employed and freelance workforce, and this gap is particularly acute in the Creative Industries. Although well documented nationally this gap… Read More »Plugging the Data Gap: Freelance Workers in the Creative Industries
Freelancers in the Creative Industries
One of the defining features of the creative industries is a high reliance on freelancers whether that is in film, design, tech or the arts. 32% of the creative industries workforce… Read More »Freelancers in the Creative Industries
Creating value in place
The role, contribution and challenges of creative freelance work The creative industries are incredibly diverse, and include a very wide range of occupations and businesses, from fashion or interior design,… Read More »Creating value in place
Recovery and growth for creative freelancers: during and post-pandemic
Insights from our Industry Champions: in partnership with the Centre for Cultural Value At the end of March 2021 we consulted a panel of our Industry Champions to gain a deeper… Read More »Recovery and growth for creative freelancers: during and post-pandemic
How differently has the creative workforce fared under COVID-19?
Previous PEC research undertaken in partnership with the Centre for Cultural Value shows how the creative workforce has been hit hard by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In particular, that job losses… Read More »How differently has the creative workforce fared under COVID-19?
The challenges facing freelancers in Scottish Film and TV
An analysis of 45 years of data from the Film Bang directory COVID-19’s effect on the creative industries has highlighted some of the challenges associated with freelance models of creative… Read More »The challenges facing freelancers in Scottish Film and TV
One Size Can’t Fit All: A Fortnight of Research and Policy on Creative Freelancers
Two weeks of the latest research and policy to help support creative freelancers Almost one third of the creative industries workforce is made up of freelancers (in comparison to 16%… Read More »One Size Can’t Fit All: A Fortnight of Research and Policy on Creative Freelancers
One size can’t fit all
On February 10th the House of Commons Treasury Committee published the latest report of their inquiry into the economic impact of coronavirus. Their June 2020 report focused on the gaps in support for… Read More »One size can’t fit all
Freelancers in the Dark
This blog is based on the Freelancers in the Dark Interim Report #1 which was published on Thursday 6th May 2021 and draws on a nationwide survey with 397 respondents. UPDATE: The completed… Read More »Freelancers in the Dark
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
What does the Skills for Jobs White Paper mean for Creative Industries?
A good start but the devil will be in the detail Last week, after much anticipation, and numerous leaks, we finally saw the launch of the further education (FE) White… Read More »What does the Skills for Jobs White Paper mean for Creative Industries?
A jobs crisis in the cultural and creative industries
The impact of COVID-19 on the creative industries, and particularly on the cultural sector, has been significant. Live performance venues and museums and galleries have been forced to close their… Read More »A jobs crisis in the cultural and creative industries
Who is working second jobs in the creative economy?
Recent reports that Chancellor Rishi Sunak suggested cultural and creative workers find alternative employment caused considerable controversy. Although the controversy was driven by an unclear tweet from ITV (which was later… Read More »Who is working second jobs in the creative economy?
For love or money
Graduate motivations and the economic returns of creative higher education inside and outside the creative industries In recent years, several studies have attempted to quantify the economic value of higher… Read More »For love or money
Graduate motivations and the economic returns of creative higher education inside and outside the creative industries
Insights for policymakers The creative industries have experienced a glorious decade punctuated by a challenging year. Over the last 10 years, the sector has grown at a rate more than… Read More »Graduate motivations and the economic returns of creative higher education inside and outside the creative industries
A skills monitor for the Creative Industries
Workplace perspectives: skill needs, mismatches and development in the Creative Industries This Creative Skills Monitor (2019/20), written by the PEC’s researchers at Work Advance, forms the first in a series… Read More »A skills monitor for the Creative Industries
We need a creative EdTech revolution in the COVID-19 lockdown
The overnight migration of schooling to the home in lockdown has re-energised interest in the idea of an ‘EdTech’ revolution. Online platforms are being used to help organise classes, deliver… Read More »We need a creative EdTech revolution in the COVID-19 lockdown
Getting in and getting on: Class, participation and job quality in the UK’s Creative Industries
Authors: Heather Carey, Rebecca Florisson, Professor Dave O’Brien, Dr Neil Lee It was recently suggested that the pandemic poses ‘the biggest threat to the UK’s cultural infrastructure, institutions and workforce in a generation’… Read More »Getting in and getting on: Class, participation and job quality in the UK’s Creative Industries
An opportunity for England to learn about the creativity of its people
There is a rapidly growing body of international evidence that employers, as they navigate an increasingly digital and complex world, will in the future even more so than now value human skills… Read More »An opportunity for England to learn about the creativity of its people
Skills, talent and diversity in the creative industries: critical issues and evidence gaps
Following a nine-month evidence synthesis and scoping exercise undertaken by the PEC team leading on work in skills, talent and diversity, from the Work Foundation at Lancaster University, this evidence review… Read More »Skills, talent and diversity in the creative industries: critical issues and evidence gaps
The creative digital skills revolution
A common finding in studies on the future of work is that employers will increasingly demand digital skills and creative skills. Some studies go further and suggest that the sweet spot will… Read More »The creative digital skills revolution
The value of creative higher and further education
Insights from our Industry Champions As part of the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC’s) research agenda around the value of creative education, we consulted our Industry Champions on their experience… Read More »The value of creative higher and further education
The migrant and skills needs of creative businesses in the UK
This report details the results of a survey of employers commissioned by the Creative Industries Council (CIC) from December 2017 to January 2018. The CIC survey ‘piggybacked’ on the Department… Read More »The migrant and skills needs of creative businesses in the UK
Accounting for creative graduates
As economic studies in the UK and Australia develop increasingly granular accounts of the financial returns to graduates according to their field of study, the question of the value of tertiary… Read More »Accounting for creative graduates
Creative accounting
New report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies on higher education subsidies in the loan system shines a light on long-term costs of creative arts The recent report from Institute for… Read More »Creative accounting
Design: a “General Purpose Creativity” which the UK is extremely well placed to leverage
I was recently reminded of a ‘think piece’ that I wrote in 2005, for the then Department of Trade and Industry (now BEIS), on the role of design in business… Read More »Design: a “General Purpose Creativity” which the UK is extremely well placed to leverage
Press release: New research shows creativity will become even more important to the growth of jobs between now and 2030
First study from the PEC uses 35 million UK job adverts to look at creativity & the future workforce 13th November 2018 – A new study(1) of 35 million UK… Read More »Press release: New research shows creativity will become even more important to the growth of jobs between now and 2030
Creativity and the future of skills
At a time when all jobs, whether in a coffee shop or a bank, can seemingly be described as creative, you’d be forgiven for thinking the word had lost all… Read More »Creativity and the future of skills
The Future of Skills: Employment in 2030
This report mapped out how employment was likely to change in the future – including the implications for skills – and anticipates a number of new occupations. The study challenged… Read More »The Future of Skills: Employment in 2030
The Future of Skills
Trends impacting on US and UK employment in 2030 The drivers of change shaping the future of US and UK employment and the need for different skills. This slide deck… Read More »The Future of Skills
Skilled migration and the UK’s creative industries
This report argued that to support the growth of the creative industries, we need to ensure that the UK is able to access talent from outside of Europe. Publication date:… Read More »Skilled migration and the UK’s creative industries
Skills of the Datavores: Talent and the data revolution
UK businesses need the right analytic skills to thrive in the big data era. This report identified what these skills are, and the situation in the labour market for data… Read More »Skills of the Datavores: Talent and the data revolution
The Net Effect
Using social media data to understand the impact of a conference on social networks The research used social media data from Twitter to develop a methodology for understanding the effects… Read More »The Net Effect
The analytical firm
Estimating the effect of data and online analytics on firm performance This paper used a survey of data activity for 500 UK firms which were commercially active online to quantify… Read More »The analytical firm
Inside the Datavores
How data and online analytics affect business performance This briefing paper describes the background, data, method and findings of an analysis of the link between data activity and business performance.… Read More »Inside the Datavores
Rise of the datavores: how UK businesses can benefit from their data
This report looked at how only a small minority of UK businesses use data analysis despite the significant benefit it brings. A business survey by Nesta showed how a small… Read More »Rise of the datavores: how UK businesses can benefit from their data