VLOG: Signposting creative industries to support

Creative Industries contribute over £100 billion a year to the UK economyaccording to 2019 stats* and here in Oxfordshire there are over 3000 digital and creative businesses alone.

Ranging from advertising and marketing; nationally recognised arts and cultural bodies; film TV radio and photography; designers; and ground-breaking gaming and software companiesthe sector employs over 30000 people across Oxfordshirecontributing over £1.4bn to the local economy.

The creative industries like many sectors in Oxfordshire and throughout the UK are facing unprecedented challenges brought about by Coronavirus. At OxLEP it’s our aim to signpost our business communities and key sectors to the most up-to-date information and also to our own support; helping enterprises to make positive decisions and find help during this difficult time.

A number of businesses in the creative sector are social enterprises or socially minded enterprises which are committed to enabling positive social and environmental impact. These enterprises may be eligible to receive support through our eScalate programme which helps eligible SMEs to gain knowledgeforge partnerships and increase their social and environmental impact through 1:1 support with a Business Advisor access to webinars and peer-to-peer support and match-fundedcompetitive grants. 

We are also offering Coronavirus-specific support via critical 1:1 guidance on areas such as business resilience cash flow cost reductions and diversification which could also help the creative sector in facing the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The coronavirus section on our website is regularly updated to direct all of Oxfordshire’s businesses to the advice and support available from OxLEP central Governmentlocal authorities and our many partner organisations. 

Find out more about the eScalate programme

Visit our coronavirus section

*Figures published by the Department for Digital CultureMedia and Sport