Beyond the creative industries: mapping the creative economy in the United Kingdom

The creative industries are one of the most important contributors to the UK economy. So it is important that we accurately measure their contribution to economic activity. Doing so can help both policymakers and industry professionals to communicate key concepts, share reliable data and make the case for greater investment. There have been renewed attempts to estimate the true size of the creative economy. The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) both published studies in 2007. This report complements their work and seeks to improve on the available data about the true extent of creative activity within the economy. What are the creative industries? The creative industries have been hampered by multiple defi nitions and a lack of consistent treatment on what is classifi ed as creative activity.