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Tessa Jowell Praises London College For Joining Creative Flair With Business Brains

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell today congratulated the London Institute for taking positive steps to help its arts and design students set up new creative businesses.

Tessa Jowell was visiting the London Institute's Enterprise Centre for Creative Arts, based at the London College of Printing, which provides support for students and graduates considering self-employment or freelance opportunities in the creative arts.

Commenting, Tessa Jowell said:

"Our creative industries are key to Britain's economy. They are worth over £112 billion and employ around well over a million people but there is so much untapped potential for the creative industries to be bigger, better and stronger. 

"Our challenge is to turn Britain's blooming creative talent into a bigger economic force – joining creative flair with business brains.  To meet that challenge there are many hurdles to cross, one of them being the creation of opportunities coupled with help and guidance for those starting out.

"I am very encouraged by the work and initiative shown by the London Institute in meeting this challenge.  Considering how students can be given better opportunities to understand and learn about business is one of the key recommendations made in a report published by my department today."

The Report on the Creative Industries Finance Conference provides a comprehensive record of the speeches, debate and final recommendations made at a meeting of policy makers, business leaders and financiers on 10 October 2001. 

Forging better links and building a greater understanding between creative businesses and the financial and business support sector was the aim of the conference. 

As a result, four key recommendations were agreed.  In addition to the aforementioned by the Secretary of State, the recommendations were:

  • regional agencies should be encouraged to consider holding regionally-focused finance conferences; 
  • financial sector should improve its understanding of the commercial potential of creative businesses; and
  • Regional Development Agencies should develop innovative new ways of reaching out and supporting creative businesses.

The report published today is available online at http://www.culture.gov.uk/ and features the speeches made by:

  • Dr Kim Howells MP, Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting; 
  • Christine Crawley, Chair of the West Midlands Regional Cultural Consortium;
  • John Edwards, Chief Executive of Advantage West Midlands;
  • Stephen Pegge, Head of External Affairs at Lloyds TSB Business Banking; and
  • Ian Charles Stewart, Chairman of Seven Peaks Capital.

Commenting further, Tessa Jowell said:


"It is up to our educators, businesses, bankers and government at all levels to help give young people the tools and opportunities to build new businesses.  Because being more innovative and creative is where the commercial advantage lies in the twenty-first century."

Notes to Editors

1. The Report on the Creative Industries Finance Conference is available online on the DCMS website at http://www.culture.gov.uk/ The exact location is under 'creative, media and arts', 'creative industries' and the under 'forms and documents'.

2. The London College of Printing is one of the five colleges colleges of art, design and communications making up the London Institute.  The others are Camberwell, Chelsea, Central Saint Martins and the London College of Fashion.

3. For more information about the London College of Printing Enterprise Centre contact: Kathryn Williams: 020 7468 3532.


 

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