Lifelong Learning in the Creative Industries: Where We're At and How We Can Improve
Continuous Education in the Creative Sector - Installment 1: Obstacles Encountered
Creative PEC, known for its evidence-based approach, has been revolutionizing the case for creative industries through the power of data. However, it's our Policy Unit's mission to make a meaningful impact on the real world. So, we reached out to our Industry Champions - a network of leading creative practitioners - to discuss relevant issues and find opportunities for policy change. One such issue that sparked intense discussion was the topic of lifelong learning in the creative industries.
In November, we gathered our Industry Champions in a roundtable to delve into the topic that aligns with our policy work and research: the state of lifelong learning in the creative sector. The roundtable aimed to explore what lifelong learning currently looks like for workers in creative industries, the challenges they face, and the transformation needed to optimize the skills system.
Why Lifelong Learning Matters in the Creative Sector?
Lifelong learning refers to continued education or training beyond formal education. While self-motivated workers or employers might pursue these opportunities to sharpen existing skills or acquire new ones, financial constraints, insufficient networks, and the complexities of the skills system often make it challenging for many creatives. Our Good Work Review recognized Skills Use, Development, and Progression as one of the key pillars of job quality, yet research shows that most creative workers are less likely to have accessed job-related training in the past three months.
Recognizing the critical role of lifelong learning for the creative industries, the UK Government has placed skills as a top priority, with the creation of Skills England to address gaps in learning provision, the establishment of the Growth and Skills Levy to offer greater flexibility for employers, and the planned 2026 rollout of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement to overhaul the way individuals can access and fund their own training.
The Challenges
The roundtable discussion highlighted several areas that need improvement to ensure a more expansive, equitable lifelong learning offer:
Getting Qualifications Right
The unique nature of the creative industries means that different subsectors have different approaches to learning and training. For some, a lot of learning isn't tracked or accredited, making it harder for creatives to gain recognition without extensive networks.
Type of Skills the Creative Industries Need
The diverse array of roles in the creative industries means that individual lifelong learning needs will vary greatly depending on context. Developing a deep understanding of specific skills needs and shortages is crucial to creating a tailored learning offer.
Issues of Access to Creative Education
Creative education suffers from persistent inequalities, with uncompetitive wages and the declining number of teachers in further education making it challenging for both learners and providers to find relevant experience, particularly for highly specific requirements. The rise of digital learning can open provision to those historically excluded, but can potentially lead to shallower learning experiences.
Unblocking the Talent Pipeline
The emphasis on early and ongoing creative learning is essential for a truly lifelong offer. But to make it happen, vocational pathways need expansion, and young people need to be remunerated for their work, including during apprenticeships, to make these routes viable for diverse backgrounds.
Structural and Cultural Issues in the Creative Industries
Non-linear careers, intensive work hours, and a lack of funding make it difficult for individual creatives to prioritize training. To change this, creative firms should embrace good practice, call out bad practices, and prioritize access to networks for aspiring creatives.
Stay tuned for part 2 of the blog, where we explore potential solutions to encourage lifelong learning in the creative industries.
Image Credit: Matthieu Comoy
About The Author
- Nik Gunn, Policy Adviser*
- Creative PEC, recognized for its data-driven strategy, has been advocating for the creative industries, aiming to impact the real world through policy changes.
- Lifelong learning, a form of continued education beyond formal education, is crucial for the creative sector, yet many creatives face financial constraints, insufficient networks, and complex skills systems.
- Recognizing the importance of lifelong learning, the UK Government has prioritized skills, creating initiatives like Skills England, the Growth and Skills Levy, and the Lifelong Learning Entitlement to enhance learning opportunities.
- A roundtable discussion with Industry Champions highlighted the need for improvements in lifelong learning, addressing issues such as qualification recognition, varied skill needs, access to creative education, talent pipeline, and structural and cultural barriers within the creative industries.
- The diverse nature of the creative industries necessitates a deep understanding of specific skill needs and shortages to create a tailored learning offer.
- Persistent inequalities in creative education, exacerbated by uncompetitive wages and a declining number of teachers, make it challenging for both learners and providers to find relevant experiences, particularly for highly specific requirements.
- To ensure a more expansive and equitable lifelong learning offer, vocational pathways need expansion, and young people should be remunerated during apprenticeships to make these routes viable for diverse backgrounds.
- Creative firms should adopt good practices, challenge negative practices, and prioritize access to networks for aspiring creatives to help them prioritize training and navigate non-linear careers.
