Entrepreneurship in the Creative Industries

Some indicative statistics

In 2003, there were 24,300 graduates from creative arts and design courses in the UK, representing approximately 9% of the total number of graduates.  (HESA)

In 2002/03, there were approximately 133,000 students registered on creative arts and design degree programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the UK.  (Universities UK)

Enrolments on Creative Arts and Design subjects in Higher Education increased by 55% overall between 1994/95 and 2001/02 with larger increases of 80% in music and drama and over 200% in cinematics.  This compares with an increase of 33% across all subject areas.  (Universities UK)

The highest unemployment rates in 2003 were for graduates in creative arts (10.5%) and computer science (12.4%).  (HESA)

According to Graduate Market Trends, the volume of 2002 graduates working for themselves was just 2.2% which was, however, a small rise from the previous year.  Graduates from creative arts courses were most likely to strike out on their own, with craft, music and fine art topping the self-employment table.  (Graduate Prospects)

And yet....

Numbers of places available nationally, per annum on entrepreneur programmes:

• 50 on the NESTA Creative Pioneer Programme
• 30 on the Crafts Council Next Move Initiative
• 200 members of the Design Council’s Platform entrepreneur club
• 20 graduates across all subject disciplines for the NCGE Flying Start Programme
• 850 students across all subject disciplines on the Young Enterprise Graduate Programme
• 54% of UK Higher Education Institutions offer some form of business incubation and/or start-up support 
   

Despite this…

Creative arts graduates are almost twice as likely to be in part-time employment in the first 18 months after graduation as graduates from all subject areas.  Overall, 3% of graduates became self-employed, while 13% of creative arts graduates were self-employed in their first job.  (PALATINE)

Those with higher degrees and degrees are more likely than average to be entrepreneurs.  (24% vs. 18%)  (SBS)