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Staffordshire University’s Cultural Trends
Unit carried out research into the creative economy of Stafford Borough
on behalf of Culturegen, the creative industries development service for
the area. The research surveyed the scope and scale of the creative
sector, current provision of support, and investigated the needs of
creative businesses and practitioners.
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This page summarises some of the main findings.
Stafford's creative businesses
who, what, where, how
much?
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There
are at least 500 creative industries in Stafford Borough, making
a significant contribution to the local economy.
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The
research examined 100 of these businesses in depth. These 100 businesses
alone employ 574 people.
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10% of Stafford’s total identified creative
businesses gave details of turnover and profit during 2001/02. This
information provided a useful snapshot of the sector’s economy; total
turnover for this 10% was £5.63m with a total profit of £1.38m.
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The largest sub-sector employer was design
followed by visual arts and antiques
and publishing.
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Most creative business are small with less
than 10 employees, and are mainly based at home or in rented workspace. |
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Stafford's creative businesses
what do they want? |
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Tailored, managed workspace.
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Networking, professional development and
training.
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Business support, information and advice
specifically tailored to the creative industries - especially about
starting and marketing a business.
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Database and directory of creative
businesses and practitioners.
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culturegen’s aims
Culturegen aims to support and develop this
emerging sector in Stafford Borough,
in partnership with local and regional agencies. |
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the future
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Stafford Borough has an
energetic and committed community of
businesses and individuals engaged in the creative industries.
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There is potential for
considerable growth – particularly in the areas of
media, crafts, visual arts and design – through links with local public
and private sectors.
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There are weaknesses in the
infrastructure and support, and parts of
the sector are fragile with under-developed markets.
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Stafford’s creative
industries have an important role to play in Stafford
Borough’s future development and regeneration, within a bigger
picture which looks at the area’s broader cultural life and social and
economic regeneration. |
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