Creative Industries are a group of sectors which are based on individual creativity, skill and talent. They require imagination and innovation and include occupations such as graphic design, journalism and the visual arts. In all of these sectors, businesses and individuals are active in creating, making, exhibiting and selling creative goods and services.
Source: New Economy Manchester's Policy & Research Team
Key Statistics
Distribution of Employees in Creative Industries
working within Greater Manchester, 2007
Employment Concentrations
based on numbers working in Creative Industries in Greater Manchester, 2007
Large or significant Creative Industries employers in Greater Manchester include:
BBC Manchester - Broadcasting services
Century FM - Broadcasting services – radio
Granada TV - TV, film and video production services
Guardian Media Group - Newspapers and magazines
John Rylands University Library - Libraries
Manchester Evening News - Newspapers and magazines
Manchester Youth Theatre - Theatre
Olan Mills - Photographers – general
Signs and Labels Ltd - Signmakers
Trafford Park Printers - Printers and lithographers
Source: Business Solutions, 2008
Employment Concentrations
based on numbers working in Creative Industries in Greater Manchester, 2007
Forecast employment changes in Creative Industries
in Greater Manchester, 2008-2013
Occupations include:
Actors, entertainers
Advertising and public relations managers
Archivists and curators
Artists
Arts officers, producers, and directors
Authors, writers
Bookbinders and print finishers
Broadcasting associate professionals
Clothing and related designers
Dancers and choreographers
General creative occupations
Graphic designers
Journalists, newspaper and periodical editors
Librarians
Library assistants and clerks
Musicians
Originators, compositors, and print preparation
Photo and audio visual equipment operators
Printers
Printing machine minders and assistants
Case Studies
Ron Bolden:
Age 30
Illustrator/Animator
I work as an animator mainly doing character creation and development for licensing companies. The work I do is really varied, involving things such as creating characters that will be used online or illustrating books. I often have to look into the background of an advertising campaign and consider how the designs I create could be used in the future, perhaps on clothing or on a range of stationery.
Many people think that animation/illustration is a really hard field to get into and that used to be true, but it’s now less difficult to get involved. With the arrival of new technologies like Broadband, online animation has really taken off and recently, designing screensavers for mobile phones has also been a real growth area. I have my own website, something which is really important for advertising my work.
Working as an animator is really flexible and means I am lucky enough to be able to choose to work for myself or for a firm. I love the job – it’s amazing fun and you can really let your creative juices run wild!
Polly Edwards:
Age 25
Graphic Designer
Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to be an artist. I’ve always had a creative streak and been interested in design and the visual world, so after my A levels I decided to study to be a Graphic Designer.
As with a lot of creative jobs, working as a Graphic Designer offers a lot of flexibility. It’s possible to work from home, be self-employed or work in a large advertising agency, non-profit organisation or corporation. Whilst a lot of Graphic Designers do a variety of design work, a lot of designers specialise in a certain area such as book design or packaging.
I think that to be a Graphic Designer it’s really important to be able to communicate effectively, both in person and in writing, as you often find yourself presenting work to clients and colleagues. Obviously, it’s also important to have entrepreneurial skills if you want to run your own business effectively.
Most Graphic Designers enjoy drawing and working on a computer as well as reading, since a lot of graphic design is concerned with the visual representation of words. If you have these skills then you have every chance of being successful in this field.
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