Creating the Future

The REC’s Creative Sector group met recently to discuss current trends and look ahead towards the future. Members representing areas such as PR and public affairs, advertising, gaming and the wider creative industries were joined by organisations from LinkedIn to the CIPR, and from the Creative Industries Federation to the Centre for Ageing Better.

Booming sector
The UK’s creative industries have not only contributed to driving the country’s economy, but also exporting Britain’s values and influence worldwide. The sector is thriving and recruiters are playing an increasing role in finding candidates, leading on diversity and helping clients prepare for the future. The creative sector is the fastest-growing area of the economy, and in the North East the sector has grown by 48 per cent; mirrored by the growth of businesses on the south coast. We also heard that the UK film industry is thriving, and there is high demand for junior roles across the whole industry.

Creating diversity
There is still more to be done on the diversity and inclusion front within the sector, particularly in more senior roles. Interestingly, in the PR industry, recent data has shown that there has actually been a drop in diversity metrics! Nevertheless, there are still plenty of good initiatives taking place. We heard from David Smith, CEO of Interactive Selection and Founder of Women in Games (WIGJ), a non-profit organisation that works to recruit more women into the gaming industry and to support those already in the field. WIGJ also campaigns to ensure individuals and businesses understand that a more diverse workforce leads to greater productivity and financial success, and ensures a diverse pipeline of future industry leaders.

The group also heard from Patrick Thomson from the Centre for Ageing Better on some of the challenges that older people face in gaining employment in the creative industries, particularly in IT and fashion design. Look out for our next Future of Jobs leadership whitepaper for more…

Good recruitment
The REC encourages employers to put good recruitment at the top of their agenda, and for REC members to raise the Good Recruitment Campaign (GRC) with their clients. By promoting the GRC, recruiters in the sector can help to engage employers in a discussion on what good recruitment looks like, and promote the added value that specialist recruiters can provide in acquiring talent and encouraging greater social diversity in the sector.

Although the sector will likely continue a positive upward trend as technology develops, the element of human creativity will always be at its centre.

For more information on the Creative Sector group, or to learn more about our Future of Jobs work, please contact neal.suchak@rec.uk.com.

Let’s be creative!

#RECCreative