Work in the creative sector? Join CREATE Solent

Artists and people from all kinds of creative industries in the region are being invited to join the exciting new CREATE Solent initiative which aims to build a powerful, industry-led body of people to boost the creative industry eco-system.

The pioneering collective, launched by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), is being launched in partnership with CREATE Britain, a national organisation that brings together and promotes every aspect of British Design and Creativity. The new regional initiative will provide exciting opportunities for all those working in the creative industry in the region, as well as recent graduates starting out on their careers. It will be a single access point for creative industries to network, address challenges and collaborate.

Paula Swain, Solent LEP Business Director and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) Champion said: "We are really excited about the launch of CREATE Solent, a platform that will help regional creative industries achieve their full creative and commercial potential by being part of a bigger association. The LEP is delighted to be championing the Solent's creative industry in all its forms, supporting this growing sector to flourish.

"I encourage all those who are working in any of the creative industries to sign up and be part of CREATE Solent, through which they can raise their profile, and reach out to collaborators and clients from right across the country.”

CREATE Solent will support the industry thrive by forging stronger alliances between creative businesses, entrepreneurs, networks, and associated organisations. It will also provide an easily accessible route for buyers and new commissions to access information about the best creative professionals in the region.

CREATE Solent, which is part of CREATE Britain, will play an important role in Britain’s place-making and levelling-up drive, showcasing the region’s specialisms, culture and heritage to enrich the UK’s Creative Industry sector.

Jeremy Aird, Founder of CREATE Britain said: "We are delighted that CREATE Solent, is our first Regional Partner - they share our drive and determination to supercharge local creativity.

"By utilising CREATE Britain’s infrastructure, their creative community will have the tools and eco-system to shout locally, nationally and globally about the amazing creativity and diversity that they have to offer.

"A huge amount of hard work has gone into the developing the platform, but if it was easy it would already have existed. The need to give all of our brilliant creatives the tools and a place to be found only makes us more determined to keep pushing. As creatives we use so many different tools to produce our work - we have built a tool that will help ALL of us promote our work.

"If you love what you do and want to celebrate your unique creative talent, let us know you’re there and then we can help opportunity find you."

The Solent has 16,000 creative industry students at universities in Southampton and Portsmouth, making it the fourth largest area for creative studies in the UK. The Solent region is recognised as a Creative Industries Growth Cluster, with 4,500 creative businesses and 40,000 related jobs, generating £1.5bn GVA per annum.

Find out more and sign up via the CREATE Solent registration page.