Introducing the Lambeth Creative and Digital Industries Study

The study aims to understand the complex shape of the Creative and Digital Industries in Lambeth and to develop a clear strategy to support their growth.

Commissioned by Lambeth Council and co-sponsored by South Bank BID, the strategy will be developed by BOP Consulting and Bilfinger GVA, working closely with local businesses and sector support agencies.

There is a strong case for focusing on these sectors. The creative industries are important as a growth sector, because of their high productivity, and in supporting the growth of other sectors. For example, in Lambeth, the world-class performing arts cluster on the South Bank underpins the wider visitor economy.

And digital technologies are also recognised as one of the fastest growing areas of the UK economy. According to the most recent government statistics, ‘IT, software and computer services’ now represents more than 5% of the economy as a whole, with a turnover of £37bn and employing over 600,000 people.

Creative and digital are now so intertwined it is hard to study one without studying the other. As with so many sectors, the creative industries are being transformed by the digital economy, but this is a two-way street. Technological innovation is going hand in hand with creative practices and artistic expression.

These are some of the big themes we will be addressing during this project. We wanted to keep a live blog which updated our progress and our findings as we go. This is, in part, a commitment to being open about our work — we will make the data and findings available once they are completed to other researchers.

But it is also about recognising that it is important that the sector in Lambeth is deeply involved in the co-creation of the strategy as it develops. This blog is one way of helping that.

To contact the project team, email bethany@bop.co.uk or myself at callum@bop.co.uk — we are leading the project for BOP.

Callum Lee, Director at BOP Consulting