CREATIVE industry support agency ACME says the Government needs to give more support to the sector to help it to meet its potential.
In last week’s Autumn Statement, the Government announced a £6m investment “to provide entry-level and professional-level training for up to 3,300 people working in our film, television, animation and video games companies”.
ACME’s Kevin McManus, head of creative and digital at regeneration agency Liverpool Vision, gave the cash a cautious welcome – but said the Government needed to do much more to help the sector grow.
He said: “News of any new money being invested into the sector is always very welcome, as is anything that boosts industry relevant skills and aids entrance into jobs in creative and digital industries. But I’ll reserve judgement until I see how it is delivered and how actively it is taken up by the sector.
“Here we have another minister talking about the importance of the sector to the UK economy, but this very rarely seems to translate into policy or funding.
“Obviously £6m is very welcome, and if industry is matching it then there will be a larger pot, but unless existing companies in the sector are supported to grow then there won’t be any jobs for people being trained as a result of this initiative.
“The largest pot of money to support business growth under the current government is Regional Growth Fund. This fund appears to have been used to boost the traditional manufacturing industry rather than to support the emerging creative and digital industries – which to my mind is a missed opportunity.”
