OPINION: Exciting times ahead for region’s creative sector

May 8 2008 by Alistair Houghton, Liverpool Daily Post

THE digital and creative industries sector in Merseyside and the North West is pivotal to the region’s knowledge economy. It generates 16% of the North West’s Gross Value Added (GVA), employs 10.6% of its workforce and forms the second largest creative cluster in Europe.

The BBC’s decision to relocate a number of key departments to Salford Quays by 2011 has captured the imagination of creative business leaders across the world and catalysed the efforts of the region’s £16bn digital and creative industries to establish the North West as one of the world’s most innovative production centres for digital entertainment and new media.

This summer, the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) will recognise these efforts and launch the Northwest Digital and Creative Industries – Sector Strategy and Action Plan, to take the sector into an even brighter future.

This important document, written in consultation with industry and public sector partners, sets out the vision and future direction of the sector.

One aim of this bold plan is to draw in talent, skills and investment from overseas to grow regional output by £1bn a year by 2015 with the US, Japan and China among the main targets.

Our targets include the creation of 1,000 apprenticeships by 2010 and investment in a NorthernNet high-speed communications network for business.

Creative industries cover a broad range of activities from advertising and design to television and electronic publishing. Taken together, the sector employs some 320,000 people in 31,000 businesses.

It is an exciting time for the North West’s Digital and Creative Industries and the sector has a bright future in our region, just watch this space.

BY IAIN BENNETT, sector leader for digital & creative at the Northwest Development Agency