Creative UK
Posted on 19 Feb 2010
Creative UK is the proposed trade body for any business involved in promoting activities that require hand to eye coordination. The organisation is the result of a market review to identify a shared set of objectives, projects and a delivery structure to unite the creative industry in order to better realise its potential through partnership.There is little doubt that the sector does have real potential, but lacks cohesion and impact in its presentation to UK consumers at large. Limited awareness of creative activities and appreciation of their benefits are resrticting investment, expansion and innovation. In an ever increasingly competitive leisure market and challenging economy, many believe that the industry needs to unite to succeed.
Over the past year the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) has thrown its support behind a project to identify the right vehicle to deliver a UK trade body that can also partner CHA on an international basis. Creative UK has CHA's support in principal and has received the endorsement of a number of businesses in the UK market, but the success of any such body is dependent upon the sector as a whole.
Creative UK actively promotes the creation of a UK trade organisation which directly and positively impacts the growth of the industry and success of its members. It will be established as an independent charitable membership organisation, supported by a wholly owned trade focused subsidiary and owned by its membership.
Creative UK will be wholly inclusive of businesses within the sector and governed by UK Charity Commission guidance, its aims will be to unite the sector in producing initiatives which are to the benefit of the public.
Trade organisations come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the most successful are those in specialist sectors that embrace the needs of their members and focus upon market development. Creative UK aims to achieve this via public promotion and education about the benefits of creativity for wellness, child development and fun. A key objective is to make creativity ‘funky', a past time applicable to all genders and age groups.
Establishing a vibrant and exciting image for the UK creative industry will not only drive consumer demand and retail traffic, but elevate the commercial positioning of the industry and its members. ActSmart has offered to develop a business support programme for retail and supply businesses that will extend beyond the core benefits currently offered into specialist sector initiatives, similar to those already provided in markets with established trade bodies.
People will be at the heart of the organisation. Specialist businesses require special people and skills development will be a key focus for industry support, but central to all promotion will be the benefits of creativity to the UK public. Never is this more evident than in the work of Betsan Corkhill and Stitchlinks, a truly amazing research project that threatens not only to change the role of creative arts in the community, but alter the path of medicine and education.
ICHF has indicated their support for these initiatives by incorporating Creative UK and Betsan Corkhill's work within Craft, Hobby and Stitch International 2010.
It is proposed to fund the organisation via an industry levy donation programme collected by suppliers. Retailers will be invited to contribute donations of 0.1% of purchases from participating suppliers, the equivalent of 10p for each £100 of purchases. Suppliers will be asked to match retailer contributions, the equivalent of 0.1% of sales. All ancillary businesses involved within the creative trade will be welcomed to participate on a similar basis
The organisation will be overseen by a board of trustees elected from across the trade of creative businesses, who will be responsible to the members for investment programmes. These will include seed funding of inititaives that will benefit the market, public and hopefully stimulate Government investment in a similar manner as experienced in other industries, which have proven public benefit.
Creative UK will offer everyone in the industry the opportunity to get involved in the development of their market, to participate in a successful business community and gain the promotional recognition and enhanced profile of being a Creative UK member, benefiting from increased consumer demand and positive sales growth.
If you want to participate in Creative UK, have views on its objectives or simply want to find out more, please add your comments below or write to info@creative-uk.org
