Creative Blueprint England

• England has a creative workforce of 597,350 which is 88% of the UK creative workforce
• Creative businesses contribute £23 billion GVA to the UK economy
• By 2017, industry growth of 122,000 jobs is expected
• 55% of the jobs will require specialist, higher skills

The creative and cultural landscape in England

Across England, the creative and cultural industries have an impact on the lives and the economy of cities, market towns, seaside resorts and villages. Their reach is both local and global, from jewellers to international advertising agencies and they are growing.

Creative & Cultural Skills: working in England

The Creative Blueprint England is at the heart of our work in England and our research and consultation with industry indentified five challenges:

1. technical and specialists skills gaps
2. higher skills needed in business and enterprise
3. confusion about what training is available and what qualifications are needed
4. workforce diversity - 92% of the workforce is white and 60% men -there should be opportunities for everyone
5. employers and practitioners need to commit to training.

Education and training context

• England has 93% of the UK Further and Higher Education provision.
• 24% of the businesses in England had difficulties with recruitment and 36% had skills gaps
• 38% of employers had arranged training with their staff
• The majority of businesses do not have a training budget

Information, advice and guidance

Creative Choices is an online service offering resources and inspiration for careers in the creative and cultural industries.

Sector Qualifications Strategy

As part of our SQS, we are working with partners in England to ensure that qualifications meet real employer needs in our sector.

Training

Creative Apprenticeships

Creative & Cultural Skills has launched the Creative Apprenticeship as a new and alternative route into the sector. The Creative Apprenticeship is an alternative way of recruiting into roles which require specialist skills learnt on the job, such as theatre technician and front of house assistant. A Creative Apprenticeship lets candidates who cannot afford to do unpaid work experience placements can access jobs in the industry.

Cultural Leadership Programme

The Cultural Leadership Programme (CLP) is a Government funded investment in excellence in leadership across the creative and cultural industries. By supporting an ambitious range of activities and opportunities, the programme aims to nurture and develop world class, dynamic and diverse leaders for the 21st Century.

The Cultural Leadership Programme was developed by a Steering Group comprising: Arts Council England, Clore Leadership Programme, Creative & Cultural Skills, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, HM Treasury and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

National Skills Academy

The National Skills Academy is an industry-led membership organisation, developing and governing the delivery of industry approved standards, training and related skills through its network of creative and cultural employers, trade associations and 20 Founder Further Education Colleges across the nine regions of England.