Exploring theCreative Landscape in the United Kingdom: Identifying the Key Players in the Nation's Creative Sector
November 19, 2020 saw the publication of the "Creative Radar" report, a comprehensive study on the UK's creative industries. Authored by researchers from the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex Business School, the report was peer-reviewed prior to publication.
The report presents a detailed analysis of the migrant and skills needs of creative businesses in the UK, based on a survey of employers commissioned by the Creative Industries Council. The research identified and mapped 709 creative microclusters around the UK, using survey data and website scraping techniques.
One of the key findings of the report is that businesses in microclusters, especially those outside of large established clusters, are more likely to have grown and reported more benefits from being inside a microcluster. These benefits include fostering rapid growth, local economic stimulation, and enhanced community impact through concentrated innovation and collaboration.
Compared to larger, established creative clusters, microclusters offer several advantages. They provide agility and focus, allowing for more nimble adaptation to innovation and specialized collaboration among close-knit businesses. They also offer regional and community benefits, spreading creative economic benefits more widely and helping regional innovation ecosystems develop. Furthermore, microclusters can tap into grants, mentoring, and tailored funding that address the practical needs of smaller businesses, facilitating localized growth and sustainability.
While larger established creative clusters benefit from scale economies, stronger networks of knowledge spillovers, and often attract more institutional investment, they may also experience diminishing returns in creativity due to over-concentration or institutional rigidity. The report's depiction of many microclusters generating significant Gross Value Added (GVA) suggests that a network of smaller, focused creative hubs can collectively rival or complement the impact of larger clusters.
The report also discusses post-Brexit migration and accessing foreign talent in the Creative Industries, but does not present recommendations for policymakers regarding international trade in creative goods and services. It does, however, recommend investing in programs like the Creative Scale Up to support the growth of microclusters outside of the established large clusters.
The report does not discuss the growth and benefits reported by businesses inside creative microclusters. The views and interpretations expressed in the report do not necessarily represent those of the PEC or its partner organizations. The full size version of the map and more information can be found on the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre's website.
The photo used in the report was taken by Alyssa Bossom of Margate in England. However, the report does not provide information about the number of creative microclusters outside of large established clusters.
[1] Siepel, J., Velez-Ospina, J., Casadei, P., Camerani, R., Masucci, M., & Bloom, M. (2020). Creative Radar. Policy Briefing. Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre. [2] Siepel, J., Velez-Ospina, J., Casadei, P., Camerani, R., Masucci, M., & Bloom, M. (2020). Creative Radar. Full Report. Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre. [3] Siepel, J., Velez-Ospina, J., Casadei, P., Camerani, R., Masucci, M., & Bloom, M. (2020). Creative Radar. Executive Summary. Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre. [4] Siepel, J., Velez-Ospina, J., Casadei, P., Camerani, R., Masucci, M., & Bloom, M. (2020). Creative Radar. Policy Briefing. Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre. [5] Siepel, J., Velez-Ospina, J., Casadei, P., Camerani, R., Masucci, M., & Bloom, M. (2020). Creative Radar. Full Report. Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre.
- The "Creative Radar" report, authored by researchers at the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex Business School, provides an in-depth analysis of the skills needs of creative businesses in the UK.
- The research identifies and maps 709 creative microclusters across the UK, using survey data and website scraping techniques.
- Businesses in these microclusters, especially those outside of large established clusters, have shown more growth and reported more benefits from being within a microcluster, such as fostering rapid growth, local economic stimulation, and enhanced community impact.
- Microclusters offer advantages over larger established creative clusters, providing agility and focus, facilitating more nimble adaptation to innovation, and promoting specialized collaboration among close-knit businesses.
- While larger established creative clusters benefit from scale economies and stronger networks of knowledge spillovers, they may experience diminishing returns in creativity due to over-concentration or institutional rigidity.
- The report recommends investing in programs like the Creative Scale Up to support the growth of microclusters outside of the established large clusters.
- The report discusses the importance of rural and regional development, suggesting that a network of smaller, focused creative hubs can collectively rival or complement the impact of larger clusters.
