The Government has announced a more than £20m boost to creative industries across England on the one year anniversary of the industrial strategy.
The funding is designed to attract new talent, scale up existing businesses, and boost skills and education for an industry that contributes £100bn to the economy.
The investment will go into a £14m Creative Careers Programme, which will see leading industry figures working with schools and colleges to raise awareness of employment opportunities in the sector.
There will also be a £4m programme to help scale up creative enterprises in the West of England, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, and £2m will go towards the ‘Get it Right’ campaign to educate consumers on the dangers of copyright infringement.
‘Millions of people around the world enjoy our world-class creative and cultural output every day and we want to stay as a frontrunner in these vibrant sectors,’ said the minister for the creative industries, Margot James.
‘Our creative industries are a vital part of the economy, contributing over £100bn to the economy so it is important we maintain the pipeline of talent.
‘This package will take the sector from strength to strength by arming the next generation of creatives with the necessary skills and giving businesses in the sector the support they need to succeed.’
‘Our world-class creative sector is a powerhouse built on brilliant ideas,’ said Tim Davie, co-chair of the Creative Industries Council.
‘It’s vital we ensure a healthy pipeline of diverse talent to continue building on our creative success, and that we ensure a strong business environment to maximise the potential of those ideas.
‘These commitments will provide vital support in both areas, to help our industries thrive.’