Creative UK is hosting regional summits to boost investment in the UK’s creative industries.
- Summits will be conducted in Bradford, Gateshead, Birmingham, and Plymouth.
- These gatherings will feature live pitches from regional businesses, highlighting investment opportunities.
- Events are part of the Creative Growth Programme, aimed at scaling successful investment models.
- The initiative supports nearly 700 businesses annually, underscoring the sector’s economic significance.
Creative UK is organizing a series of regional summits focused on invigorating the UK’s creative sector through strategic investment. These events will take place in Bradford, Gateshead, Birmingham, and Plymouth, marking a significant effort to enhance regional business prospects.
The summits will involve live pitching sessions where regional businesses can showcase their potential to attract commercial investments. This approach is part of the broader Creative Growth Programme, which was initiated in 2022. The program aims to empower creative enterprises across 12 regions in England by facilitating access to investment opportunities.
Scheduled for January and February, the regional events will pave the way for a national summit in London. This initiative emphasizes the importance of sustainable and inclusive growth within the creative industries, fostering an environment where businesses from various parts of the UK can thrive.
Caroline Norbury OBE, Chief Executive of Creative UK, highlights the summit’s role in celebrating impactful work across England. She notes that the Create Growth Programme exemplifies how tailored business support can significantly contribute to growth, with Creative UK assisting over 700 businesses annually in achieving their expansion goals.
The cultural and creative sectors have become increasingly vital to the UK economy, with a notable contribution of £125bn in GVA. This accounts for approximately 6% of the economy, with job creation in these fields occurring at three times the national average, involving 1.8 million workers and an additional 700,000 self-employed individuals.
Creative UK’s regional summits represent a pivotal step in harnessing the power of investment to propel the UK’s creative industries forward.