Surrey+ Creative Corridor: powering creative innovation and growth throughout the UK from Surrey

Join the Surrey+ Creative Technology Corridor and shape the future of innovation in the UK.

Sector workforce mapping for Surrey+: in partnership with Surrey Chambers of Commerce and the Surrey Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), The Fifth Sector is mapping  the Creative and Digital workforce across Surrey, North Hampshire and Mid Hampshire. This mapping will give us an up-to-the-minute picture of employees, self-employed and freelance creatives in sectors including animation, videogames, film and television.

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The Surrey+ Project is a strategic initiative developed by The Fifth Sector in collaboration with Surrey County Council and the University for the Creative Arts. It focuses on ways in which bringing together creative producers, education partners and production facilities in and around Surrey can accelerate development of a Surrey+ Creative Corridor and its recognition as a nationally and globally significant hub for creative technology innovation and economic growth.

We are engaging with creative producers and employers to understand current and future skills needs, as well as opportunities for collaboration and growth. These workshops build on the 2023 Surrey Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and look to leverage unique strengths in creative, cultural, media and industries along the Surrey+ Creative Corridor to foster partnerships among businesses, academia, and government, driving a coordinated approach to boost the growth and resilience of the local creative economy and increase opportunities for the creative workforce across the region.

We will be asking:

  • How do changes in the current skills landscape affect you and your business?

  • How are skills needs evolving? How does recruitment and retention of talent need to change?

  • How can industry and education work better together to adapt to a fast-changing environment?

  • How do we create more accessible and equitable routes into creative employment?

  • Where are the new and emerging clusters of growth across the Surrey+ Creative Corridor?

  • What other factors do you think will have most impact on your business?

 

Surrey+ Exploration and Exchange workshop - Coming soon in 2025

  • This in-person workshop focuses on setting the vision for the Surrey Creative Corridor. Through a mix of presentations, discussion and knowledge sharing, cultural and creative business leaders and stakeholders from education, the public sector, elected representatives and voluntary and community organisations are invited to review the existing research, share their knowledge of the emerging regional context (including changes around devolution) and come up with ideas for a Creative Corridor vision.

    Be first to learn the findings of new research into the creative workforce in Surrey and Hampshire and help shape the vision for the Surrey+ Creative Corridor

    • What do you what do you most want to get out of the Surrey+ research?

    • Who needs to be engaged in co-design and delivery of the outcomes?

    • Where can Surrey+ have the greatest impact in building social capital?

    • How can we build stronger collaborations between artists, cultural organisations and the creative technology sector?

    • What is the vision for the Surrey Creative Corridor?

    • What options are there for actionable strategies that can transform the perception and performance of the creative economy in the Surrey Creative Corridor?

  • Cultural, creative and tech business leaders and educational, public sector, civic and community sector partners with a vision for the transformation of the creative economy in Surrey and surrounding areas.

    • ·Review up-to-the-minute research on creative businesses and workforce

    • Debate how shifts in the external political, economic and technological environment will affect organisations and individuals across the Surrey and South Central region

    • Hear “success stories” from other regions which have attempted similar transformations of their creative economies

    • Bring your vision for the Surrey Creative Corridor

    • Explore options for actionable strategies that can transform the perception and performance of the creative economy in Surrey and its surrounding areas

  • TBC

  • Registration: Link above, events are free and open to all

  • Contact: For more information, email Culture@thefifthsector.co.uk.

  • Hosted By: The Fifth Sector, in partnership with Surrey County Council and the University for the Creative Arts.


Date & Time: Register now to reserve your place
Location: TBC

What is the Surrey+ Creative Corridor?

Global Hub

Surrey aims to become a world-renowned centre for creative technology innovation.

Economic Growth

The project will boost local economy by attracting investments and creating high-value jobs.

Collaborative Ecosystem

We're fostering partnerships between businesses, academia, and government to drive innovation.

Creative Industries Network

The Creative Industries Network is a voluntary network and working group based across Surrey, Hampshire, and West Sussex. It unites a diverse array of practitioners and businesses from the creative sector to collaborate, discuss common challenges, identify opportunities, and exchange best practices. Further information can be found here: https://www.uca.ac.uk/creative-industries-network/

Why Your Business Should Participate

Shape the Future

Your input will help define Surrey's creative technology landscape for years to come.

Expand Your Network

Connect with industry leaders and potential partners in the creative tech sector.

Guide Policies

Help shape policies and investments that will support your business's growth.

A series of in-person and online focus groups

By submitting your details, you acknowledge and agree to the sharing of your personal data with The Fifth Sector, Surrey County Council and University for the Creative Arts. This information will only be used for the purposes of research for the specific named project above.

Be first to learn the findings of new research into the creative workforce in Surrey and Hampshire and help shape the vision for the Surrey+ Creative Corridor

In partnership with

  • University of the Creative Arts

    Supporting the programme

  • The Fifth Sector

    Facilitating the programme

  • Surrey County Council

    Surrey County Council

    Supporting the programme