Nations & Regions
We are committed to making the very best of the UK’s creative talent – wherever it may be.
Creative & Cultural Skills is a UK-wide organisation and we have teamed up with a range of agencies to build up local, national and international networks. In England, we work in partnership with Regional Cultural Consortium groups and Regional Development Agencies on major skills initiatives.
London
The creative industries – in particular Design and Music – are priorities for London Development Agency (LDA), while culture has a key role in London’s tourism industry. At the same time, unemployment and workless-ness are high in many boroughs.
London's skills issues connect to sustaining growth and global competitiveness, and getting people into work. The London Skills and Employment Board, chaired by the Mayor, have produced a draft skills strategy and actions for consultation addressing these issues.
The 2012 agenda is a key driver in London. Creative & Cultural Skills is working wit partners as LOCOG on the Cultural Olympiad and Cultural programme through Creative Apprenticeships and the National Skills Academy.
South East England
The South East Economic Development Agency (SEEDA), priorities both the creative and cultural industries as part of delivering global competitiveness, smart growth and sustainable prosperity. Culture is a cross setting theme that supports developing underperforming areas, enterprise and innovation. SEEDA engages with the regional cultural agencies to deliver the economic action plan.
The region as a whole has a high profile, but this masks areas with a lower skills profiles. Raising skills in particular technical and specialist skills and increasing demand for high level skills are priorities. Detailed planning for the regions engagement in 2012 Olympics is underway, including a cultural programme.
South West England
The South West Development Economic Development Agency (SWERDA) has recently reviewed its creative industries strategy, developing a South West Creative Economy Partnership. Each partner has a different role in developing the regional creative economy. SWERDA has a focus on supporting development of innovation, business enterprise and high growth as well as developing industry clusters to deliver growth. Tourism is key to the region and connects to the Heritage industries.
A Cultural Leadership Programme network pilot runs in the region. Employer partnership work has begun to deliver Creative Apprenticeships and National Skill Academy. Creative & Cultural Skills has also created links to the South West Higher Skills Pathfinder Pilot.
A regional Olympic programme is in development, with a strong emphasis on culture.
North West England
The Creative and Digital Industries are a priority for the North West Development Agency (NWDA) with a current focus on film and YV (Covered by Skillset). There are a number of Creative Industries business partnerships that work more widely across the creative and cultural industries and come together with regional education and cultural agency partners in the Creative and Digital Sector Skills Productivity Alliance.
NWDA is also committed to delivering a Rural Renaissance Recovery Plan and developing quality of life through developing Culture and image. This is focused on the Liverpool as European Capital of Culture 2008 and the 'cultural offer' of the other North West Cities.
East of England
The East of England Development Agency's (EEDA) current Regional Economic Strategy (Under review) engages with the creative and cultural industries through a number of key goals. EEDA, the Learning Skills Council (LSC) and the regional Arts Council are currently working with Creative & Cultural Skills on the development of the National Skills Academy, as proposed national centre will be based at Purfleet.
The Olympics will have an impact on regional infrastructure and in terms of cultural programming.
Creative & Cultural Skills is working with MOVE, the regional Lifelong Network, with a part time post delivering shared objectives on progression and Continuing Professional Development.
West Midlands
Advantage West Midlands currently has priorities in Tourism and Leisure and High Value Added Consumer Products. The recent consultation on a revised economic strategy proposed including the creative industries as part of exploiting markets with the most wealth and employment potential, and maximising the regions cultural offer and assets.
Both Advantage West Midlands and the Regional Skills Partnerships prioritise higher skills, leadership and management, and diversity and equalities, as well as the alignment of training supply and business support to employer and individual needs and the role of research in planning skills needs and supply.
Yorkshire and Humber
Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency, identifies Digital industries as a regional priority cluster. There are regional action plans for the knowledge based clusters and that for Digital Industries is to be expanded to have wider creative industries coverage. Culture is also seen as contributing to the economy, regional renaissance and profile. This includes the regional Olympic Programme.
Both Yorkshire Forward and the Regional Skills Partnership identify business skills, higher skills, leadership and management, and technical skills as priorities, plus the need for information, advice and guidance for business development. Inclusion and diversity are also issues for business development and the regional workforce.
East Midlands
The East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) does not priorities particular creative and cultural industry sectors, but sees creativity and culture as key to innovation and business development, economically successful and sustainable communities and the visitor economy. The Regional Skills Partnership has priority sectors in creative industries and tourism and leisure. Creative & Cultural Skills is currently working with Culture East Midlands, EMDA, the regional Arts Council, Museums Libraries and Archives Council, and the Audio Visual Sector Alliance on a regional action plan that covers the wider creative and cultural industries. This is forming the basis for the regional Creative and Cultural Industry partnership.
North East
One North East, the Regional Development Agency, prioritises commercial and creative industries and the role of the cultural and heritage industries in regeneration, the environment, tourism and quality of life. Design is a particular focus with a planned Design Centre for the North on Gateshead Quays.
Creative & Cultural Skill had been working with the Sage, Gateshead in the development of Creative Apprenticeships and with Universities North East, the Arts Council and Northern Cultural Skills Partnership on high skills and wider skills agenda.