Creative sector is enjoying a boom period
Oct 31 2007 by Iain Laing, The Journal
MORE than 9,000 new jobs are expected to be created in the region’s commercial creative industry in the next five years after the sector has experienced strong growth.
Independent research commissioned and published today by regional development agency One NorthEast shows the industry, worth £800m to the region’s economy, is going from strength to strength, with 81% of companies anticipating a growth in turnover in the next five years and 53% planning to recruit new staff – a 36% increase on current employment levels.
The commercial creative sector forms a key part of a broader creative and cultural economy in the North-East that has flourished over recent years.
It has more than 2,200 businesses currently employing 30,000 people and has seen dramatic growth over the last few years, as seen by 48% of the sector’s businesses who are under five years old.
The sector, which includes advertising, film and television, games and new media, music, performing arts and publishing, has been analysed in new report.
Ian Williams ONE director of business and industry, said: “The Regional Economic Strategy (RES) identifies the Commercial Creative Industries as a sector of key importance to the region’s economy.
“This research shows that the sector is again punching above its weight in the region and this is likely to continue. The sector has key strengths in both content and technology development as well as in exhibition, education and culture, and the region The growth of the commercial creative industries point the way forward to a more knowledge-based economy in the region, and the report highlights key opportunities that can be taken advantage of to maximise growth in the sector”
An example of how One NorthEast is assisting the sector to grow is the £1.6m grant provided to Live Theatre supporting its recent £5.5m redevelopment, which successfully re-opened on the Newcastle Quayside this month.
Live Theatre chief executive Jim Beirne said: “The refurbishment and redevelopment at the Live Theatre has been a great success. The building combines old and new, ensuring fantastic state of the art facilities for customers and company alike whilst keeping the unique character of the building and the special intimate ambience for which the old venue was so well loved. We finally have a venue that will allow us to achieve our ambitions.
Nick Oldham is Managing Director of Media 19, a leading North-East independent production company, combining broadcast production, project and campaign management, publishing, exhibition, events and new media.
He said: “We’ve been growing our business over the past number of years and it’s important that we can continue to do this in a vibrant and expanding creative industry and economy here in the North-East.”
