Key organisations gather at first-ever creative industries showcase at Oxford Brookes University
Industry leads working across the county’s creative industries yesterday (27 June) gathered at Oxfordshire’s inaugural sector showcase event.
The Oxfordshire Creative Industries Showcase – held at Oxford Brookes University’s Clerici and the Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall – saw creative industry professionals, entrepreneurs and fast-growing businesses working within the sector who call Oxfordshire ‘home’ come together to highlight some of the ‘significant opportunities’ that exist now and in the future.
The event was officially opened by Andrew Stephenson MP – Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister For Business and Industry (pictured below) – and was backed by a number of leading sector organisations, including; Creative Industries Federation, Creative England, Digital Catapult and Arts Council England.
Oxfordshire is one of the UK’s leading regions for creative industries and it’s estimated that over 3,000 creative and digital sector businesses are based in the county, generating around £1.4billion for the UK economy each year – a figure which means Oxfordshire is one of the sector’s top 'hot-spots' anywhere in the country.
The £1.4billion figure itself equates to around six per cent of Oxfordshire’s annual GVA, which stands at £23billion a year.
Oxfordshire is also one of the country’s largest centres for publishing anywhere outside of London, with major employers including the likes of Oxford University Press.
The event also helps to solidify Oxfordshire’s creative industries sector as a ‘high-growth cluster’, identified in the government’s Creative Industries Sector Deal, announced in March last year.
Nigel Tipple – Chief Executive of OxLEP – said: “Our economy in Oxfordshire presents many opportunities to ‘UK PLC’, particularly in the context of a post-Brexit economy and the need to make the most of our existing international strengths.
“Creative industries is one of our leading sectors and – similar to other significant sectors like digital health and space and satellites – has the capability to drive forward the UK economy.
“Today’s showcase is a tribute to our creative sector and its continued commitment to collaboration and a shared determination to harness new technologies to power innovation.
“We hope visitors enjoy this celebration of the extraordinary vibrancy and dynamism here in Oxfordshire.”
Paul Inman – Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of Technology, Design and Environment at Oxford Brookes – added: “Oxford Brookes is delighted to work with OxLEP to welcome creative industry leaders.
“For any university to relate to the wider society it serves, it must engage across the boundaries between disciplines, as well as the boundaries between higher education and that wider society.
“At Oxford Brookes, we're bringing together studies in technology and engineering with our creative disciplines, to drive innovation and advance teaching and research.
“We are pleased to connect businesses, innovators and entrepreneurs to strengthen collaboration and showcase the pioneering work that takes place here and across Oxfordshire.”
Pictured (top): Jason Kingsley of Rebellion and journalist Gill Oliver. (All photos taken by Andrew Ogilvy)
To find out what happened at the event, head to the Oxfordshire Creative Industries Showcase page
