Member Article

Free workspace for creatives of the present and £7m funding for London’s creatives of the future

The continued centrality of tech and creative industries to London’s economy has been emphasised by a pair of separate initiatives aimed at supporting the creative innovators of today, and fostering the creative professionals of tomorrow.

The first is a £7m fund announced by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today that will help improve access to and the availability of skills training for young Londoners in digital, technology and creative industries.

Aimed at ensuring the capital’s youngsters are armed with the sort of skills the city’s world-leading tech industry requires, the programme will also look to improve diversity in the tech sector with a particular focus on women, black, asian and minority ethnic Londoners, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Mayor’s Digital Talent Programme will invest £7m in initiatives such as work placements for young Londoners, tailored learning opportunities, and assistance to university students in its attempts to create a local, diverse digital skills pipeline for the city’s tech and creative industries.

Funding for the various schemes will come in the form of £5m from the London Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and £2m from the European Social Fund.

Khan commented: “Our vibrant tech sector is globally renowned and the city is awash with thousands of tech innovators and entrepreneurs who are developing the latest apps and software and delivering economic prosperity for the city.

“However, it is vital that we nurture the next generation of digital enthusiasts so we can continue to provide our tech firms with home-grown talent.

“Our new scheme will help to ensure that this crucial sector continues to go from strength to strength. It will also look to address the factors that are often preventing young women, those from minority ethnic backgrounds and our more deprived communities from accessing tech jobs and ensure there is a level playing field when it comes to being a part of this hugely exciting part of our economy.”

At the same time, a new creative co-working space due to open in January in East London has announced it is going to give 20 creative workers a free desk for 12 months in an attempt to tackle the cost of living crisis currently engulfing London’s creative industries.

With high-demand and rising property prices pushing up office prices across London, The Trampery Republic has said it will offer ‘early-stage innovators’ free space in its new 9,000 sq ft facility when it opens next year.

At last count London’s creative industries were estimated to be worth £35bn to the economy, a total which is expected to rise over the coming years.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →