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Creative industries

Staffordshire and the digital and creative industries

  • Staffordshire has a fast-growing digital and creative industries sector, particularly in software development in the energy, medical and entertainment fields.
     
  • Skills shortages in the industry are having a detrimental impact on growth within the sector.
     
  • The expanding digital sector in Staffordshire is strong in IT managed services and internet service providers.
     
  • Local employers include Navman Wireless, Quiss Technology PLC, Comtact, koko Digital and the BBC has MediaCityUK now based in nearby Salford Quays.

The digital and creative sector is fast-growing. A lot of the jobs in this sector are new. Many didn’t exist 50 years ago and new jobs are being created all the time.

The UK picture

In the UK, the sector employs over 550,000 people and includes opportunities in animation, computer games, film production, interactive media, radio and television.

Such rapid growth is evidence of both the growing importance of the creative industries in an age of increasing digitalisation, with products and services such as video games and social media becoming ever more popular, and the fact that the UK has traditionally been near the forefront of such development.

There is a need for both technical and professional skills’ within and across the industry.

Job roles in the sector include:

  • Performing arts – theatre, musical theatre, dance, opera, puppetry, mime, carnival, street and circus arts (and all of the ‘support jobs’ needed)
     
  • Literature – writers, novelists, poets and playwrights. Visual arts cover a range of art forms, including painting, sculpture, photography and new media
     
  • Design:

    • Ceramics – design for one-off and mass production.
    • Fashion Design – men’s, women’s and children’s wear, knitwear, shoes, hats, work wear
    • Furniture – design for one-off and mass production
    • Interiors – design for retail, domestic, commercial and industrial environments
    • Jewellery – design for fashion jewellery and for precious stones and metals
    • Product – includes everything from cars and aeroplanes to vacuum cleaners and wheelbarrows
    • Graphic design (such as newspapers, magazines, brochures), typography, corporate identity, advertising, packaging, multi-media, TV and film graphics, and illustration
       
  • Communication – advertising, media, marketing and public relations
     
  • Broadcasting – radio, film, animation, commercials, games design etc
     
  • Software and computer services
     
  • IT telecommunications

Qualifications and routes

There are many ways to get in to the digital and creative industries. A combination of learning and experience is the best way for your child to increase their knowledge and build their confidence within the sector.

Routes include:

To get in to this sector your child will need to develop their knowledge of the subject, have individual creativity, skill, talent and technical skills. It’s worth talking to people already working in these fields to find out the skills employers are looking for.

The sector covers a variety of careers and required qualifications with therefore vary.

These industries can be difficult to get in to; highly competitive and often changing. The creative industries sector is characterised by a large number of small and micro businesses therefore entrepreneurship and young enterprise training would be useful if this is provided at your child’s school.

If your child thrives on competition, is creative and likes constant change, this sector could be an enjoyable challenge.

General skills needed

Employers are looking for people who posses the following skills:

  • High level computing
  • IT skills
  • Technological development
  • Business development
  • Innovation
  • Problem solving
  • Good communication skills
  • Adaptability

Types of jobs in this sector

Click on the links below to see the National Careers Services job profile with details of what’s involved, hours, salary, and entry requirements or search at National Careers Service. 

Animator

Fine artist

Pattern cutter

Antique dealer

Florist

Pattern grader

Architect

Footwear designer

Photographer

Art editor

French polisher

Photographic stylist

Art gallery curator

Furniture designer

Photographic technician

Arts administrator

Furniture restorer

Picture framer

Art therapist

Glass engraver

Pre-press operator

Art valuer

Glassmaker

Printing administrator

Blacksmith

Graphic designer

Product designer

 Bookbinder or print finisher

Hat designer or milliner

Prop maker

Cabinet maker

Illustrator

Reprographic assistant

Cad technician

Interior designer

Sales Administrator

Ceramics designer-maker

Jewellery designer-maker

Set designer

Clothing alteration hand

Landscape architect

Sewing machinist

Community arts worker

Leather craftworker

Stonemason

Conservator

Machine printer

Tailor

Costume designer

Make-up artist

Tax Advisor

Design engineer

Medical illustrator

Textile designer

 Dressmaker

Model maker

Textiles production manager

Ergonomist

Museum assistant

Visual merchandiser

Exhibition designer

Museum curator

Web content editor

Fashion design assistant

Musical instrument maker-repairer Web designer

Fashion designer

Naval architect

 

 

 

 

Publishing and Journalism

Advertising copywriter

Indexer

Radio broadcast assistant

Archivist

Machine printer

Sub-editor

Art editor

Magazine journalist

Technical author

Bookbinder or print finisher

Newspaper journalist

Translator

Bookseller

Newspaper or magazine editor

Web content editor

Broadcast journalist

Pre-press operator

Web editor

Commissioning editor

Printing administrator

Writer

Copy editor

Proofreader

 

Editorial assistant

Public relations officer

 

Performing arts, broadcast and media

Actor

Fashion model

Sound engineer

Advertising media buyer

Lighting technician

Stagehand

Animator

Make-up artist

TV or film assistant director

Arts administrator

Media researcher

TV or film camera operator

Audio-visual technician

Music promotions manager

TV or film director

Broadcast engineer

Music teacher

TV or film producer

Broadcast journalist

Music therapist

TV or film production assistant

Choreographer

Photographer

TV or film production manager

Cinema attendant

Photographic stylist

TV or film sound technician

 

Photographic technician

TV presenter

Classical musician

Prop maker

TV production runner

Computer games developer

Radio broadcast assistant

Video editor

Computer games tester

Screenwriter

Wardrobe assistant

Costume designer

Set designer

Web content editor

Dancer

Stagehand

Web designer

Dance teacher

Stage manager

Web developer

Entertainer  

Web editor

agehandFurther information

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