Creative industries in the South Wales Valleys: a working paper.

Creative businesses are thinly spread in the Valleys, but there are development opportunities, if these can be pursued with patience against a background of sustained creative industries policy focus by the Welsh Government. The creative software sub-sector looks particularly promising, with emerging momentum in Wales and the Valleys, and low barriers to entry. The best approach would be to understand in detail business activity which already exists and to engage in dialogue about value-adding investments and initiatives, such as the provision of suitable premises/incubation space and, where possible, addressing the fast broadband deficit. Local authority policy thinking and interventions with regard to creative business shows awareness of wider contexts, but is unevenly resourced and delivered. Little connection is made between the role of publicly funded arts projects and creative business. Peer to peer creative business networks have demonstrated their value and should be encouraged. Broadband availability is problematic, but is being addressed by the Welsh Government. This is a make or break issue. Educational provision, relevant to creative industries at the FE and HE level, is very substantial and supported by sustained student demand. This is a strength, but there is a need to ensure that what is offered is well articulated to emerging strategic business needs, diverse business models and genuine employment opportunities. Better co-ordination of all these activities will add to the value of the whole approach. Good data-keeping and routine evaluation is important and largely missing from current approaches