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 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°

Qualifications

Creative Apprenticeships

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. 

Working with employers, stakeholders and colleges we plan to establish a pilot programme by October 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

This Leadership Programme is an industry-led initiative to develop Northern Ireland’s existing creative and cultural leaders and to prepare emerging leaders for the future. After the success of the 2009-10 programme, Creative & Cultural Skills is launching a 2010-2011 programme which will start in early October. Applications are now open, and if you are interested in applying please download the programme overview to find out more and complete the application form. If you would like any further information, please contact the Northern Ireland Manager, Sara Graham.

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

Programme overview
Application form
Mentor Guidelines
 

Northern Ireland Employers Skills Group

We are led by the views of employers in the creative 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
• Michael Ockwell, Chief Executive, Grand Opera House
• David Byers, Chief Executive, 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
  
• Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council Northern Ireland and Chair of NI Employers Group
• 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
• Andrew Ferris, Director, Smalltown America