What is it? “Creative employment provides around two million jobs, in the creative sector itself and in creative roles in other sectors. Employment in the sector has grown at double the rate of the economy as a whole.”

How is it made up? “The DCMS classifies enterprises and occupations as creative according to what the enterprise primarily produces, and what the worker primarily does. Thus, a company which produces records would be classified as belonging to the music industrial sector, and a worker who plays piano would be classified as a musician.” “The primary purpose of this is to quantify - for example it can be used to count the number of firms, and the number of workers, creatively employed in any given location, and hence to identify places with particularly high concentrations of creative activities.”

“It leads to some complications which are not immediately obvious. For example, a security guard working for a music company would be classified as a creative employee, although not as creatively occupied.” “The total number of creative employees is then calculated as the sum of: all workers employed in creative industries, whether or not creatively occupied (e.g. all musicians, security guards, cleaners, accountants, managers, etc. working for a record company). all workers that are creatively occupied, and are not employed in creative industries (for example, a piano teacher in a school). This includes people whose second job is creative, for example somebody who does weekend gigs, writes books, or produces artwork in their spare time.”

Statistics Turnover in the sector in 2006 was £5.1 billion and it supports over 60,000 jobs. The Government's Economic Strategy identified the sector as one where Scotland has a comparative advantage that can be built upon to increase productivity and growth.

What is it made up of? -Advertising -Architecture -Art and antiques -Computer games -Crafts -Design -Designer fashion -Film and video -Music -Performing arts -Publishing -Software -TV and video

What are the main vocational areas within the sector? Creative Scotland is a development body for arts and culture; it has the main responsibility to promote an understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the arts and culture; and most of all work with partners to support the creative industries.

How is the sector important to the UK economy? The major developments over the last ten years include web and mobile based technologies, meaning a massive boost in web design and other sectors within the creative industry. The creative Scotland Bill will give the new Scotland body functions to: Promote understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the arts and culture. Identify, support and develop talent and excellence in the arts and culture. Realise the value and benefits of arts and culture. Support activities which involve the application of creative skills to the development of products and processes.

What is the cultural importance to the UK? It is important to UK culture as Britain has a diverse population of ethnic groups, the creative industries help promote this diversity, with variations of music, photography and design from all corners of the world, which can be good for tourism and the promotion of the UK’s diversity and culture.

How is it different from Cultural industries sector? Cultural industries include industries that focus on cultural, tourism and heritage, museums and libraries, sports a nd outdoor activities, while the Creative Industries are more technology based.

What is meant by synergy within the creative industries? Synergy within the creative industries involved more than one vocational areas working with on-another. A good example of synergy within the sector is the video games industry being so closely tied with the animation/film and video area. This is because many video game developers need to approach animation firm and in some cases individuals to help with animation within the game (for models and characters etc)as people who are likely “developing” the game are more experienced in coding the games engine rather than being knowledgeable in the animation area, thus forcing them to work together.

What are the key issues for the candidates chosen vocational area in this sector? As most jobs are located in the south of London moving locations could be an issue when trying to find a graphic design job up north. Also technology may have a massive impact within this area.