Sir Peter Bazalgette has proposed a £500 million Creative Clusters Fund to encourage regional growth of the creative industries, a move that has been welcomed by those in the greeting card trade. Sir Peter, the current chair of ITV and former Arts Council England chair, was commissioned by the government to lead an independent review of the UK creative industries. The report, published on September 22, estimates that the creative industries could create a million new jobs by 2030 and deliver close to £130 billion for the economy by 2025.
His key recommendation is the development of a £500 million Creative Clusters Fund to drive regional growth, but also recommends easier access to finance, intellectual property advice and trade.
This could be very good news for the greeting card industry, with funding potentially available to help and support designers and publishers. Designer and illustrator, Jessica Hogarth says: “The report sheds a very positive light on what us creatives know is already a fantastic industry to be a part of. Funding will help this sector to grow and thrive but should also provide further support for those just starting out, which could really benefit budding creative entrepreneurs in the early stages of their journey. The Ladder Club is a prime example of how a network of like-minded people can really support each other and go on to flourish in their field. The future looks bright for UK creatives, and it’s an exciting time to be in business.”
