Sparking Innovation in Tight-Knit Communities: Unveiling Creative Microhabitats for Businesses
In a significant development for the global creative economy, the conversation between the Global North and South is being steered by the Global Creative Economy Council (GCEC). The council, under the leadership of its new Chair, Marta Foresti, is focusing on the co-location of the Creative Industries with other Industrial Strategy Priority Sectors.
Dr. Josh Siepel, Associate Professor at the University of Sussex Business School, has been at the forefront of these discussions. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and nurturing the UK's creative microclusters, neighbourhoods, towns, or villages that house at least 50 creative industries organizations.
The Creative Industries Sector Plan has made several key sector-wide announcements in this regard. One such announcement is the identification of 709 creative microclusters across the UK, as revealed in the PEC report published today. These microclusters, especially those outside the big, established creative clusters, are showing a strong propensity for growth. Companies within these microclusters have reported growing in the past year, indicating a promising future for these regions.
However, challenges remain. Companies outside the South East perceive access to external finance as a barrier to growth. This issue is further explored by Professor Nick Wilson in his discussion on the Equity Gap in Britain's Creative Industries.
The UK government has taken steps to address these challenges. A pilot of the Creative Scale-Up scheme, aimed at supporting creative businesses in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, and the West of England wishing to scale up, has been supported by the government.
The concept of creative microclusters is not new. Nesta's 2016 report, The Geography of Creativity in the UK, identified 47 creative clusters in the UK. These creative microclusters, characterized by spatial closeness, shared values, and trust fostering collective creative learning processes, are innovative and creative economic regions, though specific cities or regions are not named in the provided sources.
The article was written by Dr. Josh Siepel, and a photo taken by Ryan Booth in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, captures the vibrant spirit of these creative microclusters. The report 'Creative Industries Radar' is available to read, and a map of these creative clusters and microclusters in the UK can be explored.
The 2025 Spending Review has implications for the creative industries, and it will be interesting to see how these developments unfold in the coming years. The future of the UK's creative industries looks bright, with a focus on nurturing and growing these creative microclusters.
