The creative
industries are the fastest growing sector of the UK economy. They are set to
overtake manufacturing in their contribution to the UK economy in 2008.
We have set up
this new LFIG Study Group in 2007, the LFIG Creative Industries Study Group,
to assist Government in supporting the sector.
We are defining
them initially as cultural heritage and tourism, creative export and design,
advertising, film and theatre, publishing, sports and the media, and
supporting professionals, although we may well come to widen and/or refine
this definition.
We are looking
to both encourage policy-related thinking on how best to support and develop
the creative industries, and how to overcome key issues which currently
characterise the sector.
The latter
include low wages; creating genuine “creative economies”; cultural diversity
and inclusion; valuing the creative element; investment issues and effective
wider links to both societal and physical regeneration. The lack of
management skills and training in some parts of the sector, for example the
£14bn music industry, remain enormous in their impact; in others the issues
are more complex and more intangible.
It is
anticipated that much initial activity will relate to recruiting new members
to reinforce its resource base and arranging a series of hearings featuring
key players in the creative industries sector, rather than undertaking high
profile activities. It will aim to present a policy report on the sector
within a reasonable time horizon.
To date it has
met with the RSA’s Media & Creative Industries Special Interest Group and
attended the London College of Communications Creative Industries Workshop
2007.
For more
information, contact either Nick Waloff, Chair, 16 Mount Eaton Court, Mount
Avenue, Ealing, London W5 2RF (DDL: 020-8998-3364 mob: 07710-225638 email:
nwaloff@lfig.org) or Anthony Shrubsall, Vice
Chair (mob: 07881-923206 email:
ashrubsall@lfig.org)
Nicholas Waloff MA BPhil AIFA FRSA
(Chair)
Nicholas Waloff (Nick) is
a regeneration funding consultant. He set up his own company, Waloff
Associates Ltd, in 1997 after working in The Housing Corporation’s Private
Finance Department between 1989-97, latterly as its Head.
Nicholas specialises in
business planning, public affairs and financial communications for public
and ex-public sector organisations. He is frequently involved in liaison
between different sectors and numerous entities to encourage sustainable
partnerships and relationships.
Nicholas graduated
from Cambridge University with a BA Hons in Geography and later studied at
the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, where he gained a BPhil Town &
Country Planning. He also spent a number of years in North America, both as
a public affairs consultant and working for the Canadian equivalent of ODPM,
Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation, on issues relating to housing
renovation and energy saving.
