In partnership with Surrey County Council, the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) has launched the Creative Corridor Initiative. This project aims to support the region’s creative industries by identifying opportunities, addressing challenges, and attracting investment.
Over the next six months, an Advisory Board will shape a report that outlines actionable steps to grow the creative economy in Surrey and South Central. A series of workshops will bring together industry stakeholders to ensure diverse input is included in the final plan.
Workshops will take place in autumn 2024, with the report launching at UCA Farnham in March 2025. If you’re interested in participating or attending the launch, please email: innovation@uca.ac.uk
Creative Corridor Advisory Board
- Steve Madincea, Madincea & Partners
- Susan Wills MBE, Surrey County Council
- Francesca Castelo, Surrey County Council
- Martin Charter, University for the Creative Arts
- Cindy Millman, University for the Creative Arts
- Libby Hooper, Sysco Productions
- Jens Christensen, Pinewood Group
- Debbie Priestnall, Long Cross Studios
- Steve Goss, Supermassive Games
- Gina Jackson, Skillful
- Steve Cuss, The Gameplan Consultancy
- Julie Kapsalis, NESCOT College
- Neil Shoulder, Activate Learning
- Jamie McKay, Hampshire County Council
- Paul Barnes, Cariboo Digital / IoD Surrey
- Louise Punter, Surrey Chambers of Commerce
- Peter Glanville, Farnham Maltings
- Catherine Knight, Waverley Borough Council
- Lucy Buckland, Epsom Borough Council
- Lee McQuade, Rushmoor Borough Council
- George Hamburger, Tannery House Studios
- Andy Pringle, IncuHive
- Andrew Rogoyski, University of Surrey
- James Bennett, Royal Holloway University of London
- Adrian Shanks, University for the Creative Arts
Learn More About
Creative Corridors
In recent years, policymakers and industry leaders across the UK have sought to exploit a prominent feature of the creative industries to drive regional growth: the fact that creative firms tend to cluster. That is, creative firms tend to locate in physical proximity to other similar firms and to collaborate and compete, due to a combination of factors such as the importance of knowledge exchange and the need for physical spaces such as film studios and cultural infrastructure (within certain subsectors). Once a critical mass of creative firms is achieved, they go on to attract more skilled workers, specialist suppliers and investors, fostering a wider environment of collaboration and competition.
Read the Creative PEC report 'Creative corridors Connecting clusters to unleash potential' (October 2024)
Our Creative Corridor is identified as part of the London and M25 Creative Supercluster hotspot, extending across London, Surrey, Kent, and Sussex. This region accounted for 68% of the UK’s creative industries GVA (£71 billion) in 2019.
Our Creative Corridor Advisory Board will identify place-based solutions to foster collaboration, elevate creative R&D and innovation opportunities, streamline skills pathways and employment opportunities, enhance visibility, and attract investment.