Creative Blueprint Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland has a creative workforce of 36,800 which is 1% of the UK creative & cultural workforce
• Creative businesses contribute £214 million GVA to the UK economy
• By 2014, industry growth of 1,500 jobs is expected
• Three quarters of the jobs will require higher skills.

The creative and cultural landscape in Northern Ireland

The creative and cultural industries have experienced rapid growth in the UK over the last ten years, which has begun to focus government's attention on the industries in terms of policy development and action and on the role of creativity and innovation in business and the economy. The Northern Ireland Assembly has set a target to grow the Creative Industries to 15% by 2014, this is supported by a Creative Industries Innovation Fund of £5m which was launched in October 2008, to assist in the development of creative businesses.

If we are successful, by 2020 parents' faces will not fall when their little Shirley says she wants to go on the stage or their wee Liam declares he's going to be an artist. They'll know that there is a good pathway into self employment and paid work in the creative industries and that great systems exist to support and develop talent, continuously. Indeed, as regular volunteers with the local drama festival, the parents opened the door to the arts for their children, Shirley learning so much volunteering as stage manager and Liam building up his portfolio as set designer. This voluntary experience was captured in NVQ s and so laid a foundation for their future arts education and creative careers. — Brenda Kent, Voluntary Arts Ireland

Creative & Cultural Skills: working in Northern Ireland

Creative & Cultural Skills and Skillfast alongside other stakeholders and industry representatives have worked with the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure in the development of the Creative Industries Innovation Fund, providing labour market intelligence and skills needs analysis. Members of the Northern Ireland Employers Group of Creative & Cultural Skills advised the Minister on the needs of the sector and how best to support its development, including the need for economic development support.

Education and training context

• Northern Ireland has 2% of the UK Further and Higher Education provision
• 16% of the businesses in Northern Ireland had difficulties with recruitment and 23% had skills gaps
• 23% of employers had arranged training with their staff
• 9 out of 10 businesses do not have a training budget and if they do it is less than £1000 p.a.

Information, advice and guidance

Creative Choices°

Creative Choices° is the first online service to provide the tools, knowledge and networks to support every individual and business to get in, and get on, in the creative industries and cultural sector.

Creative & Cultural Skills is working with Careers Service NI to deliver a rolling programme of industry-led careers seminars to careers advisers. With our employers and the LSDA we are developing a Lecturers into Industry programme to allow lecturers to spend up to six months with an employer working on a significant project.

Qualifications

Creative Apprenticeships

A new framework of apprenticeships has been designed, informed by industry, and approved for delivery. Working with employers, stakeholders and colleges we plan to establish a pilot programme by March 2010.

Sector Qualifications Strategy

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

Training 

Creative & Cultural Skills Northern Ireland Leadership Programme

The Leadership Programme is an industry-led, year long programme, to develop Northern Ireland’s existing creative and cultural leaders and to prepare emerging leaders for the future.  Creative & Cultural Skills launched a pilot programme in April 2009 which will run until March 2010.  There are plans for a 2010-2011 programme, however the dates are still to be finalised.  If you are interested in applying for this programme please check this website for updates or contact the Northern Ireland Manager, Sara Graham.

The Leadership Programme is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Department of Employment & Learning and Arts & Business, with the aim of promoting excellence in leadership across the creative and cultural industries in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Employers Skills Group

We are led by the views of employers in the creatve and cultural sector, in Northern ireland. Creative & Cultural Skills receives advice and direction from its high-profile Northern Ireland Employers Skills Group. The Group is led by Roisin McDonough, who represents Northern Ireland on our main board. Members of the Northern Ireland Group come from across the industry sub-sectors.

• Chris Bailey, Director, Northern Ireland Museums Council
• John Botteley, Director, Grand Opera House
• David Byers, Director, Ulster Orchestra
• Shiona Croft, Head of School Performing & Creative Arts, South Eastern Regional College
• Ross Graham, Free Range Music'
• Carole Kane, Development Officer Creative Industries, Workers Educational Association
• Joe Kelly, Director, Craft NI
• Brenda Kent, Chief Officer, Voluntary Arts Ireland
• Roisin McDonough, Director, Arts Council Northern Ireland
• Brendan McGoran, Creative Industries Officer, Belfast City Council
• Hilary McGrady, Director, National Trust
• Colin McKeown, Creative Director, Whitespace2
• Peter Richards, Founder and Gallery Director, Golden Thread Gallery
• Nicola Thompson, HR Manager, National Museums of Northern Ireland
• Mary Trainor, NI Director, Arts And Business NI
  
• Ian Montgomery, Dean of Faculty of Art, Design and the Built Environment, University of Ulster