Creative and Digital Industries

The creative and digital industries are truly thriving in the Northwest. The region boasts some 31,000 creative and digital businesses, employing around 321,000 people. The whole spectrum of creative and digital activity is represented here, including some highly successful niche markets. Since 1995, the sector has expanded at around twice the rate of the overall UK economy, with growth consistently outstripping national performance.

The Northwest has long enjoyed a well-earned reputation for outstanding creativity and artistic innovation, as well as its nationally important role as a dynamic business location. Its creative success has historically been based around music, particularly in Manchester and Liverpool, but today it is increasingly focused on film, digital media and television-related activities. In fact, the Northwest is the second largest broadcasting market in the UK. It is home to a huge range of independent media operators, production facilities and creative talent.

Local production companies such as Red Productions, Lime Pictures and All Out have received international acclaim. Recently, they have been joined by several major independents, including Hat Trick and Baby Cow. Both companies have opened offices in Manchester, joining prominent businesses such as the BBC, ITV Granada, Guardian Media Group, and Trinity Mirror in the UK's largest media hub outside London.

Computer games are another major strength. The Northwest, particularly Liverpool, has played a major role in the development of the UK games industry, a role reflected by the depth of interactive software talent across the Liverpool area. Computer games giant Sony Computer Entertainment is based in Liverpoool, alongside home-grown success stories such as Cheshire-based Evolution Studios and Traveller's Tales. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has described Liverpool as 'one of the world's most important cities for computer games' and the city accounts for around three-quarters of the games workforce in the region.

Thrilling times lie ahead for the Northwest's creative and digital businesses. In 2010, the BBC is due to complete the relocation of significant production and commissioning departments from London to the state-of-the-art MediaCity:UK at Salford Quays, a development which is forecast to create over 15,000 jobs and provide space for an estimated 1,150 media-related businesses.

Other ground-breaking developments in the sector include Lancaster University's Infolab21, which combines world-class research with innovation and incubation facilities, as well as Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus and Liverpool Science Park, which provide quality accommodation for high technology and knowledge-based businesses.