Overburdened universities face increasing expectations to bolster local economies, lack adequate resources and collaborative efforts from other stakeholders

Overburdened universities face increasing expectations to bolster local economies, lack adequate resources and collaborative efforts from other stakeholders

The creative industries in the UK have been a significant contributor to the nation's economy, growing at twice the rate of the general economy during 2010-2016. This sector is now a key part of the UK Government's Industrial Strategy, with a particular focus on addressing the ongoing skills gaps and shortages that have been highlighted in recent years.

One of the key areas of research is the co-location of the Creative Industries with other Industrial Strategy Priority Sectors. Dr Josh Siepe is currently researching this topic at City-REDI, University of Birmingham. Meanwhile, Dr James Davies and Dr Matt Lyons from the same university are conducting research on creative clusters in the West Midlands and South Wales to determine the role of the university within regional creative economies.

The screen sector across the UK is particularly affected by these skills shortages, as highlighted in the BFI's 2022 Skills Review. To keep up with the post-Covid boom in production, over £100m of funding is needed per year to support workforce development for the TV and Film sector.

Another area of research is the self-employed workforce in England and Wales, a topic being explored by Dr Ruoxi Wang from the University of Sheffield and Bernard Hay, Head of Policy at Creative PEC. Historically, the creative sector has lacked trust in the ability of universities to provide up-to-date training and 'set/studio ready' graduates. This research aims to gain a more granular picture of the skills ecosystems of the West Midlands and South-East Wales and to consider the role devolution plays in providing an institutional framework that connects education, industry, and government.

Key factors in addressing the skills shortage in the creative industries outside South-East England include focusing beyond entry-level training towards mid-career and senior level upskilling, improving technical, creative, IT, and soft skills development, and strengthening industry engagement with training providers. Regional skills ecosystems interact with industry and regional government by collaborating to create targeted, inclusive, and responsive skills pathways, informed by local employer needs and supported through devolved governance mechanisms.

Traditionally, the creative industry was dominated by London and the South-East, but emerging creative clusters outside this stronghold are increasing. Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, for instance, hosts more than 10% of the UK games industry, including studios from industry heavyweights like Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and SEGA. Cardiff and South Wales is also home to high-profile TV and film productions like BBC's His Dark Materials and Netflix's Sex Education.

As the 2025 Spending Review is being discussed in relation to the creative industries, it is crucial to ensure that the necessary funds are allocated to address the skills shortages and support the continued growth of these creative clusters. Professor Dave O'Brien, a Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Manchester, is among those researching class inequalities in film funding, aiming to contribute to a more equitable and inclusive creative economy.

References:

1. UK Government's Industrial Strategy Council (2019). Skills for the Future: A Review of the UK's Skills System.
2. UK Government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (2020). Creative Industries Sector Deal.
3. Nesta (2019). Future Skills: How the Creative Industries Can Prepare for a Future of Rapid Technological Change.
4. Creative Industries Federation (2019). Creative Industries Sector Deal: A Progress Report.
5. The creative industries in the UK have been a significant contributor to the nation's economy, growing at twice the rate of the general economy during 2010-2016.
6. This sector is now a key part of the UK Government's Industrial Strategy, with a particular focus on addressing the ongoing skills gaps and shortages.
7. Research at City-REDI, University of Birmingham is examining the co-location of the Creative Industries with other sectors.
8. Dr James Davies and Dr Matt Lyons from the same university are conducting research on creative clusters in the West Midlands and South Wales.
9. In the screen sector, there is a critical need for workforce development due to skills shortages, necessitating over £100m of funding per year to support the TV and Film sector.
10. Dr Ruoxi Wang from the University of Sheffield and Bernard Hay are researching the self-employed workforce in England and Wales to gain a more detailed understanding of skills ecosystems.
11. Regional skills ecosystems can collaborate with industry and regional government to create targeted, inclusive, and responsive skills pathways, informed by local employer needs.
12. Emerging creative clusters outside London and the South-East, like Leamington Spa in Warwickshire and Cardiff and South Wales, are becoming increasingly significant, hosting industry heavyweights and high-profile productions.

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