Essential strategy for a nationwide rebirth of the UK's creative sectors
In a policy briefing published on 16th June 2020, researchers Professor Peter Sunley from the University of Southampton and Ben Gardiner from Cambridge Econometrics have outlined potential policy actions to address authors' earnings and the recovery of the UK's creative industries, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research, conducted for the PEC and Creative England, delves into the UK television production sector, international trade, and pressures to consolidate, as well as providing a comprehensive analysis of audiences and workforce using census data. The findings are based on recent papers "The changing spatial distribution of employment in Creative Industry Clusters in England 1991-2018" and "Relatedness between the Creative Industries and the wider economy: A primer".
One of the key policy suggestions from the research is the need to enhance connectivity and support nodal cities outside London, such as Leicester, Bristol, Bath, Greater Manchester, and Leeds. These cities have shown potential in driving creative industry growth and could be strengthened through policies that improve transport and digital infrastructure.
The research also highlights the importance of acknowledging regional variation and concentration patterns, as creative industry employment has shown tendencies towards geographic concentration, particularly in London and along key corridors. Policymakers should tailor their strategies to the distinct growth trajectories and needs of different regions and subsectors, instead of adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.
Moreover, the research suggests supporting smaller and rural areas that have experienced fast growth in certain subsectors. Targeted support to these emerging clusters can help diversify and strengthen the overall creative economy.
While the report focuses on historic employment trends, the spatial dynamics suggest that recovery strategies post-COVID-19 should prioritise improving connectivity, recognising varied regional strengths, and supporting both established and emerging creative clusters for a resilient and more balanced creative industries recovery.
It is important to note that these insights are drawn from the researchers' detailed spatial employment analysis rather than direct COVID-specific policy prescriptions, as the search result primarily covers data and spatial trends up to 2018.
The policy briefing is part of a series based on a PEC Discussion Paper about creative industries innovation in seaside resorts and country towns, and was overseen by Eliza Easton, the founder of Erskine Analysis and previously Deputy Director at the Creative PEC. The research focuses on England due to data availability, but the lessons drawn are applicable across the UK.
[1] This refers to the report's recommendations, not explicitly cited in the article.
- The researchers suggest that data analysis should be used to enhance connectivity and support nodal cities outside London, such as Leicester, Bristol, Bath, Greater Manchester, and Leeds, to drive creative industry growth.
- The research emphasizes the importance of acknowledging regional variation and concentration patterns within the creative industries, urging policymakers to tailor strategies to the distinct growth trajectories and needs of different regions and subsectors.
- To strengthen the creative industries, targeted support should be provided to smaller and rural areas that have experienced fast growth in certain subsectors, according to the research findings.
- Recovery strategies post-COVID-19 should prioritize improving connectivity, recognizing varied regional strengths, and supporting both established and emerging creative clusters for a resilient and more balanced creative industries recovery, as suggested by the report.
- The research provides a comprehensive analysis of audiences and workforce using census data, focusing on UK television production and international trade, and also addresses pressures to consolidate within the creative industries.
- The report is based on recent papers titled "The changing spatial distribution of employment in Creative Industry Clusters in England 1991-2018" and "Relatedness between the Creative Industries and the wider economy: A primer."
- Policymakers should consider internationalization within the creative industries to foster innovation and expansion, as outlined in the research conducted for the PEC and Creative England.
- The policy briefing is part of a series centered on creative industries innovation in seaside resorts and country towns, overseen by Eliza Easton, the founder of Erskine Analysis and previously Deputy Director at the Creative PEC.
- The research findings indicate that creative industry employment has shown tendencies towards geographic concentration, particularly in London and along key corridors, underscoring the need for targeted policy actions to address this issue.
- Education and skills development are crucial components in fostering a creative economy, as creative industry employments require diverse talents in the arts, culture, finance, business, and other related fields.
