Universities confronted with escalating pressure to bolster local economies, yet lacking adequate collaboration and resources for the task
In the realm of Britain's burgeoning creative industries, regions like the West Midlands and South Wales are making significant strides. These areas, known for high-profile TV and film productions, are addressing ongoing skills gaps and shortages, as highlighted by Professor Nick Wilson's research on the Equity Gap in Britain's Creative Industries.
The creative industries in the UK grew at twice the rate of the general economy during 2010-2016, a testament to their potential. However, a skills shortage poses a challenge to the growth of creative clusters outside South-East England. To combat this, the current skills ecosystem is being shaped by strategic funding, university-led research, and government-backed cluster-building initiatives.
In the West Midlands, universities such as the University of Warwick are playing a pivotal role. A recent £4.35 million funding from the Global Talent Fund is dedicated to attracting top global research talent in the Creative Industries. This investment supports collaborative createch research and innovation, aiming to boost regional economic growth and address skills gaps in technologies and creative processes.
Universities in South Wales, like those linked to the West of England region through initiatives like the West of England-South Wales Creative Corridor, are emphasising the development of support ecosystems for creative freelancers and businesses. This focus includes mentorship, expert guidance, and connections to investors, aiming to strengthen regional creative clusters.
To enhance their impact, universities can align their educational offerings and research with regional industry needs. This includes understanding evolving skill demands, tailoring curricula to emergent technologies and creative practices, and facilitating pathways that link education, apprenticeships, and employment within the creative sectors. Attracting and embedding global research talent also helps inject cutting-edge knowledge and innovation capacity.
Fostering createch interdisciplinary research can stimulate new products and services, directly addressing skill shortages in high-potential and rapidly evolving sub-sectors of the creative economy. Research from the Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre underscores the value of investing in creative microclusters, which have shown growth rates double those of broader regional economies, and emphasise the multiplier effect on local job creation.
Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, home to more than 10% of the UK games industry, is a prime example of a thriving creative cluster. Universities are expected to help address the skills shortage and provide benefits to employers in their region, including acting as innovation hubs for R&D.
The creative sector is a key part of the UK Government's Industrial Strategy, with various research initiatives underway. For instance, Professor Dave O'Brien is researching class inequalities in film funding, while Dr Josh Siepe is investigating the co-location of the Creative Industries with Other Industrial Strategy Priority Sectors. Dr Ruoxi Wang and Bernard Hay are studying the creative self-employed workforce in England and Wales, and Jairaj Mashru is looking at the festival economy and its value in trade.
As these regions continue to evolve, a better understanding of the interaction between industry, government, and education at the regional level is required to inform policymakers on what is the right course of action to sustain growth and provide support tailored to that region's needs. The BFI suggests over £100m of funding is needed per year to support workforce development for the TV and Film sector alone, in order to keep up with the unprecedented demand post-Covid.
The 2025 Spending Review is being discussed in relation to the creative industries, offering a promising future for these regions. As these initiatives unfold, it's clear that universities will play a crucial role in driving regional growth and addressing the skills shortage in Britain's Creative Industries.
This article was written by Dr James Davis, Research Fellow at City-REDI, University of Birmingham.
- The creative industries in the UK, such as those in the West Midlands and South Wales, experienced rapid growth during 2010-2016, outpacing the general economy.
- A significant challenge to the growth of creative clusters beyond South-East England is the persistent skills shortage.
- Universities like the University of Warwick in the West Midlands are shaping the skills ecosystem through strategic funding, university-led research, and government-backed cluster-building initiatives.
- Universities in South Wales, like those linked to the West of England region, prioritize the development of support systems for creative freelancers and businesses.
- Aligning education and research with regional industry needs can help address skills gaps, particularly in technologies and creative processes.
- Fostering createch interdisciplinary research can stimulate new products and services, directly addressing skill shortages in high-potential and rapidly evolving creative economy sub-sectors.
- Leamington Spa, with its thriving games industry, is a prime example of a successful creative cluster, where universities are expected to provide innovation hubs for R&D and address the skills shortage.
- As regional growth continues, a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between industry, government, and education is essential to guide policymakers in providing tailored support and sustaining growth in Britain's Creative Industries.
