Business and Enterprise

Overview of Problem

Across the creative and cultural industries there is a need for better business skills. Although there is an abundance of talented individuals in this sector, in many cases, marketing skills that ensure a product is seen by a wide audience are chronically lacking.

Aligned to this is the concept of professionalism. In many cases the sectors suffer from not being perceived as a viable career option. Many routes into the industry are opaque and this links to the notion that people work because of their passion for creativity, rather than to earn a living. Business and enterprise issues pertain specifically to how the sector can raise its ambitions, professionalising creative processes whilst maintaining that unique element which enables innovation and success.

Demand Side Evidence

Many of the future skills identified by industry fall under business and enterprise. They include:

• Marketing / PR
• Negotiating
• Management & Leadership
• Specific Business Skills

Supply Side Evidence

• There is a move toward more formal accreditation of courses and training in the sector. Currently training is conducted on an ad hoc basis, with little focus on long term horizon scanning. There is a perception that the industry needs to formalise such processes, whilst maintaining the flexibility that ensures innovation and creativity are not stifled.
• Across the UK there is a wealth of courses related to functional business management and administration across a range of levels. However, these courses are very generic and practitioners would probably find them more useful if they were specific to their sector.

Take a look at how Creative & Cultural Skills is working with industry on this issue:
Projects