Government to create 10,000 new jobs in the creative industries

The Government has unveiled plans to create up to 10,000 new jobs for young people in the creative industries as part of its £1.1 billion investment in the sector.

Public and private sectors will both have the opportunity to bid for the new “innovative” jobs, which will span across a range of creative sectors, according to the proposals set out by culture secretary Andy Burnham and work and pensions secretary James Purnell .

However, the focus for new jobs is in the public sector, particularly in local councils, according to Burnham and Purnell.

Private companies will be allowed to bid for funding but only if jobs “have a community benefit”.

The Government has already started working with the creative industries in a bid to create partnerships, including music and arts leaders, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England.

The funding is expected to be targeted at 18 to 24-year-olds and is likely to be made available by the end of the year.

Burhnam said: “Getting into to these sectors can be hard, especially for young people and those coming from disadvantaged groups and deprived communities.”

Purnell added: “We want this fund to create real jobs in interesting and socially worthwhile industries so people can get the skills and qualifications they need for jobs for the future. Jobs for young people in the culture and creative industries will do just that.”

Last month, Alistair Darling said the media, telecoms and creative industries will gain access to a new £2.5 billion public fund aimed at creating more highly skilled jobs (see Darling: Media industry to get £2.5b public fund).

In his budget announcement, the chancellor said: “There is £2.5 billion for business, to encourage investment in the industries and high-paid high-skilled jobs of the future.”

Darling’s budget also includes plans for the Local Government Association to publish “a toolkit of actions to help local authorities support creative industries in their areas”.