New research highlights contribution to Kirklees’ £250m+ creative economy
New research highlights contribution of freelancers and microbusinesses to Kirklees’ £250m+ creative economy
New research from The Fifth Sector, published in the Kirklees Creative Economic Impact Report 2024, highlights the significant contribution made by freelancers and microbusinesses to the creative economy in Kirklees. Key findings include:
The cultural and creative industries in Kirklees generated more than £250 million for the local economy in 2022.
Kirklees is home to more than 3,000 creative freelancers, self-employed and contract workers, making up a third of the district’s creative workforce.
There are some 1,700 registered creative companies in the district, with ‘microclusters’ of creative enterprises in Huddersfield, Holmfirth and Cleckheaton
99% of Kirklees creative enterprises are microbusinesses, employing 9 people or fewer.
Together, freelancers and microbusinesses make up more than 90% of a workforce of 9,400 creatives in the district.
The Kirklees research forms part of wider evidence of skills needs of creative freelancers and microbusinesses, built up by The Fifth Sector, working in partnership with local authorities, creative networks and cultural organisations across West Yorkshire. The result is WYCreate, a programme of sector-specialist training designed to respond to the skills and business development needs of creative workers across West Yorkshire. A range of masterclasses, covering business development for creative freelances, microbusinesses and screen businesses, branding and marketing, financial management, using AI to develop your creative business and a one-day XR workshop, will be delivered through a mix of online delivery and at venues across West Yorkshire.
The current WYCreate programme runs from October to December 2024 - full details of available courses can be found at https://www.wycreate.net/courses