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’ for the North of England to capitalise on growth potential in the creative industries, if policy makers and industry work together via ‘creative corridors’.
Economist and RSA Chief Executive Andy Haldane said: “A stronger northern creative economy is good for exports and investment which in turn increases demand for content and services from creative business in the rest of the economy. Our calculations show that this could be as high as £10 bn in GVA by 2030. The UK economy shrank in July. A creative revolution is sorely needed.”
Today’s new report England’s Northern Creative Industries warns that although growth is possible, access to skilled workers, finance and investment in innovation must be achieved to realise the potential.
Mr Haldane continued: “Without these crucial ingredients, the north will remain in the shadow of the ‘super-cluster’ of creative institutions and businesses already established in the Southeast. This report shows that London and the southeast still account for two thirds of the investment in creative industries from overseas.”
Creative PEC Director Professor Hasan Bakhshi said: “The creative industries in the North of England grew by approximately 30 per cent between 2010 and 2019 before the pandemic – more than 1.5 times faster than the growth of the wider UK economy. However, despite the presence of clusters in creative hotspots like, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle they still only contribute around 3 per cent of the north’s economy. The case is clear for policy makers and industry leaders in the north to work together to supercharge growth in this sector so that the potential can be fully realised. Our report suggests where this work could start today.”
Next step
The report says that long-term investments like the move of Channel 4 to Leeds could pave the way for the creation of a ‘Northern Super-Cluster’ of creative industries. There is already substantial expertise and ingenuity in sectors like architecture in Skipton, Harrogate, Hexham, Manchester, Huddersfield, and Sheffield, and recognised excellence in museums and galleries in York, Kendal, Malton, Durham, Newcastle, Crewe and many other towns and cities. Universities including those in York, Manchester, Newcastle, and Lancaster are also already recognised globally as centres of excellence for education and training in the creative industries.
Previous Creative PEC research points to a ‘multiplier effect’ from investing in the creative industries and suggests that for every single new job created in a local creative sector, on average two additional jobs are related in sectors like leisure and retail due to the local spending of employees of creative businesses.
The report recommends that policymakers, funding organisations, industry leaders and higher and further education institutions, should sign up to a Northern Creative Corridor Charter.
ENDS
Related News and Press
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,…
Introducing the Creative PEC’s Research Fellows Network
By Professor Hasan Bakhshi, Director Creative PEC and Professor Giorgio Fazio, Director of Research …
‘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 To…
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 Polic…
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 …
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 …
Press Release: 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 …
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…
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 …
Press Release: New Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre co-hosts announced
Newcastle University and the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) have been announced as new hosts of the Cre…
Press release: Major review of job quality in the Creative Industries
Published today: 23rd February 2023 Download the Press Release The Creative Industries – from …
Press release: Landmark report on the Creative Industries and Climate Emergency heralded as a ‘call to action’
A sector by sector overview of activity taking place in the creative industries to achieve Net Zero …
