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State of the Nations
Creative industries present huge opportunity for export growth
New research published today by Creative PEC shows that the creative industries present a huge opportunity for export growth.
Trade restrictions and UK creative services
Read the latest State of the Nations report from Newcastle University on trade restrictions and UK creative services.
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’.
Universities vital for driving regional creative industries growth and innovation
New research published today by the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) reveals the vital role universities play in supporting place-based growth and innovation.
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.
New research on Scotland’s arts, culture and heritage finds persistent inequalities in participation
Issue date: Tuesday 24 June 10am UK time New research from the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) shows persistent inequalities in participation in arts, culture and heritage sectors in Scotland, including by disability,… Read More »New research on Scotland’s arts, culture and heritage finds persistent inequalities in participation
Audiences and workforce in arts, culture and heritage sectors: Recent trends and evidence for Scotland
New research on Scotland’s arts, culture and heritage finds persistent inequalities in participation.
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.
Bolster business and financial support for creative industries micro firms to achieve UK innovation and growth ambitions
New Creative PEC research suggests creative industries micro firms have a vital role to play in driving innovation.
Support for R&D and Innovation in Creative Industries Micro Firms
New research shows creative industries micro firms are more likely to engage in R&D than firms in other sectors.
Back the creative industries to grow the economy, says new research showing creative firms are more likely to be innovators and exporters
New research finds a higher share of UK creative MSMEs are exporters compared with the rest of the economy.
Will the Creative Exporters Please Stand Up?
Read the latest State of the Nations report from Newcastle University on recent export trends and features of creative MSME exporters.
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.
Arts, Culture and Heritage sectors losing skilled employees due to low pay, limited progression and lack of flexibility
Women are more likely to leave ACH jobs according to a new report published by Creative PEC.
Policy Brief: Creative Industries Employers’ Perspectives on Skills Initiatives: 2025
Overview The Government’s new Industrial Strategy sets a long-term, sector-focused approach to skills, aiming to boost opportunity, support economic growth, and ensure a strong pipeline of talent for priority sectors… Read More »Policy Brief: Creative Industries Employers’ Perspectives on Skills Initiatives: 2025
Education and skills reforms essential for Government to achieve new Creative Industries ambitions, says new research
Embargoed: 11am Tuesday 8 July 2025 The creative industries are identified as a key sector for the UK’s economic growth ambitions in the Government’s – just published – Industrial Strategy.… Read More »Education and skills reforms essential for Government to achieve new Creative Industries ambitions, says new research
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.
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
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
Migration in UK Creative Occupations and Industries
Filling the evidence gap in relation to migration, creative occupations and creative industries.
Policy Brief: Migration in UK Creative Occupations and Industries
Overview The UK’s creative industries are internationally oriented, a fact that’s reflected in its export success,[1] volume of foreign direct investment,[2] and reliance on global talent. They are a key… Read More »Policy Brief: Migration in UK Creative Occupations and Industries
Increasing inequality in arts and culture revealed by new research
Embargoed 00.01 Wednesday 7 May 2025 A new report from the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) provides fresh insight on Arts, Culture and Heritage workforce and participation… Read More »Increasing inequality in arts and culture revealed by new research
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.
Policy Brief: Arts, Culture and Heritage: Recent Trends in UK Workforce and Engagement in England
Overview Five years after the Covid-19 pandemic, engagement and employment in the arts, culture and heritage (ACH) sectors are showing signs of recovery, with cultural engagement trends increasing across a… Read More »Policy Brief: Arts, Culture and Heritage: Recent Trends in UK Workforce and Engagement in England
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
UK Government’s growth ambitions threatened by widening creative industries skills gap
Embargoed 00.01 GMT Wednesday 12 February 2025 The rapid growth of the UK’s creative industries has earned them a place in the UK government’s Industrial Strategy as a priority sector.… Read More »UK Government’s growth ambitions threatened by widening creative industries skills gap
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
Creative PEC: A Year in Review
Looking back at Creative PEC in 2024 – a year of policy, research and industry achievements, events, reports and impact.
Policy Brief: Foreign Direct Investment in the UK’s Creative Industries
Read the Policy Brief based on the most recent State of the Nations Report on FDI.
Invest at scale in place-based approaches to unleash potential of ‘Foreign Direct Investment’ in UK’s creative industries says new research
Embargoed 00.01 Wednesday 20 November 2024 GMT With the UK Government’s forthcoming industrial strategy highlighting the creative industries as a key sector for both investment and growth, a new report… Read More »Invest at scale in place-based approaches to unleash potential of ‘Foreign Direct Investment’ in UK’s creative industries says new research
Foreign Direct Investment in the UK’s Creative Industries
A Creative PEC State of the Nations Report With the UK Government’s forthcoming industrial strategy highlighting the creative industries as a key sector for both investment and growth, this new… Read More »Foreign Direct Investment in the UK’s Creative Industries
Growth Finance for Creative Industries
A Creative PEC State of the Nations report Re-imagining growth finance could boost the creative economy and help tackle regional inequality in support of the UK’s Government’ s growth mission.… Read More »Growth Finance for Creative Industries
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
State of the Nations Report launch: Growth Finance for Creative Industries
Wednesday 16th October 2024 | 12noon | Online via Zoom.
Join us for the launch of our fifth report in the State of the Nations series
Reflecting on a year of State of the Nations reports
We’ve now published a full cycle of our new ‘State of the Nations’ series – which use the latest data to inform policymakers on ways to support the creative industries… Read More »Reflecting on a year of State of the Nations reports
Policy Brief: International Trade and the UK Creative Industries
This policy brief examines international trade in the UK creative industries. Drawing on our UK Trade in a Global Creative Economy State of the Nation report, the brief highlights key… Read More »Policy Brief: International Trade and the UK Creative Industries
Policy brief: Audiences and Workforce in Arts Culture and Heritage
This policy brief uses census data to provide, for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of audiences and workforce.
New research points to a looming creative economy skills shortage across the UK
New report shows ‘severe’ decline in creative further education participation Embargoed 17 July 00.01 BST A looming creative economy skills shortage is feared in a new report published today by… Read More »New research points to a looming creative economy skills shortage across 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
Press Release: New research, including – once in a decade data – provides comprehensive overview of audiences and workforce across arts, culture and heritage.
Embargoed 00.01 Wednesday 15 May 2024 (BST) For the first time, census data has been used to provide an in-depth map of the arts, culture and heritage workforce across England,… Read More »Press Release: New research, including – once in a decade data – provides comprehensive overview of audiences and workforce across arts, culture and heritage.
Press Release: UK’s creative industries are an export success story
New report shows creative strength despite Brexit and Covid Embargoed 00.01 Wednesday 20 March 2024, UK time Today, new research has been published showing that the UK’s creative service exports… Read More »Press Release: UK’s creative industries are an export success story
Press Release: Investing in ‘creative clusters’ is key to economic growth– and helping to level up the UK economy
A new report published today, provides fresh insight on where policy intervention could be best targeted to bolster the creative industries and help level up the UK economy. Nearly 70%… Read More »Press Release: Investing in ‘creative clusters’ is key to economic growth– and helping to level up the UK economy
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
Mark Taylor
Professor in Quantitative Social Science at Sheffield Methods Institute, University of Sheffield
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
Dave O’Brien
Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries at The School of Arts, Languages and Cultures at The University of Manchester
Josh Siepel
Associate Professor in the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex Business School