Overview of the issue

Issues surrounding management & leadership are considered vital across all of the creative and cultural industries. In many cases, there is no shortage of individuals with drive and creative talent. There is however, a lack of understanding surrounding the need for strong management & leadership skills, particularly in small organisations. For the creative and cultural industries technological developments increase the importance of good management. Technological developments are requiring individuals to learn faster, and communicate across hierarchical boundaries. This adds complexity, but also opens opportunities.

Demand side evidence

• Management roles are considered difficult to fill
• Management skills are considered lacking in applicants
• Management roles are where most skills gaps exist, and within the industry management skills (along with IT and technical skills) are considered most lacking
• Management & Leadership is also considered a key future skills need.

Supply side evidence

It is difficult to identify whether those people coming into the industry have studied management based courses. It is also difficult to know the destination of students of management courses. What is apparent is that there is a large number of courses that specifically pertain to management and leadership, and many more that could have an impact (nearly 250,000 in business alone).

Professional training in management and leadership for the creative and cultural industries needs to be tailored to the working style of the particular practitioner. Of this type of training there is very little (CLORE leadership programme is one example). A lack of context for the creative industries is often cited as a concern of those in the industry doing generic management and leadership courses.