Launch of Creative Industries Plan
New Plan Sets Out Growth Strategy for Plymouth’s Creative Industries
Plymouth is set to unlock the full potential of its creative industries, with a new Creative Industries Plan outlining major opportunities for growth, investment, and job creation in the sector.
Commissioned by Plymouth Culture at the request of Plymouth City Council, the plan has now been formally adopted, marking a significant step in the city’s strategy to harness the creative sector as a driver of economic and social value.
The creative industries are one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors, expanding twice as fast as the economy as a whole between 2010 and 2022 and contributing 5.7% of the UK’s GVA.
The Great South West region has seen some of the fastest growth in creative jobs anywhere in the UK, and Plymouth has a major opportunity to become the urban centre of this regional boom.
If Plymouth’s share of creative industries jobs rose to match the South West average, it would create 1,640 new jobs and generate an additional £90-126 million GVA per year for the city.
Cllr Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council and Portfolio Holder for Culture, said: “This is an important and timely plan for Plymouth. We’ve always known the strength and impact of the creative industries, but now we have the data to back this up and a clear roadmap to help the sector grow. This aligns with the wider growth agenda for Plymouth and the country, and it’s fantastic to see the creative industries playing such a central role in driving inclusive growth.”
The plan recommends a new approach to supporting and investing in Plymouth’s creative industries through Creative Clusters - dedicated locations where creative businesses and organisations can work together, attract investment, and share resources.
These Creative Clusters will bring greater visibility to the sector, help retain graduates and creative talent, and allow for targeted business support. The proposed clusters include:
● The Culture Cluster: Focused around The Box, University of Plymouth, and Arts University Plymouth, this area will support the growth of visual arts, heritage, and cultural businesses.
● The Performance Cluster: A dedicated music and performance zone linking venues such as The Guildhall, Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP), the Millennium Building, the Reel, and the Athenaeum.
● The Createch Cluster: Based around Market Hall in Devonport, this area will attract businesses in IT, software, screen industries, and digital creative sectors.
● Plymouth Production Park: Expanding TR2’s production capacity in Cattedown, growing skills and supply chains for industrial craft and live production businesses.
Hannah Harris, CEO of Plymouth Culture, said: “Creative industries thrive when they cluster together. It creates opportunities for collaboration, skills-sharing, and business growth. Establishing microclusters across the city will be the first step in making Plymouth’s creative sector more visible and ensuring we can target support where it’s needed.”
Plymouth has seen significant investment in culture over the past decade, but the Creative Industries Plan marks a shift from seeing culture as a destination driver to embedding creativity into the city's economic future.
The creative industries are one of the fastest-growing, high-value sectors in the UK, making this an economically smart investment. But beyond financial growth, the sector creates significant social value driving innovation across industries and enriching communities.
Hannah Harris added: “The creative industries don’t just generate jobs, they create positive spillover effects across other sectors - from tourism to tech. This means that investing in the creative industries isn’t just about economic growth - it’s about inclusive growth, ensuring that all communities can benefit from a thriving creative ecosystem.”
The Creative Industries Plan is just the start. Over the coming months, Plymouth Culture will work with key partners, including The Box, Real Ideas, University of Plymouth, Arts University Plymouth, and Theatre Royal Plymouth - to develop a detailed implementation plan, ensuring these recommendations translate into real opportunities for businesses, artists, and communities.
Read the full plan here