Economics Research Seminar: Geographies of the Creative Industries – Specialisation and Infrastructure in the UK
About this seminar
This seminar shares new evidence on where UK creative industries cluster and what local infrastructure factors help drive regional specialisation and spillovers.
Speaker
Dr Alejandro Ramirez Guerra – Research Associate of Economics and the Creative Industries in the Creative PEC unit, Newcastle University Business School.
Alejandro holds a PhD in Economics from Durham University and a Master’s in Economics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Before joining Creative PEC and Newcastle University, he worked in the consultancy sector in the UK and in public administration in Mexico.
Abstract
This study conducts a spatial analysis of the Creative Industries (CI) across UK regions, addressing two key research objectives. First, it identifies clusters of creative specialisation—defined as locations with a significant concentration of CI employment and businesses. Second, it examines the influence of infrastructure in shaping regional creative specialisation.
The findings reveal a pronounced concentration of creative activity in London, alongside several other clusters across the UK that generate positive spillover effects in neighbouring areas. Evidence indicates that high population density, the availability of train stations, higher broadband speeds, and higher GVA per capita are key drivers of specialisation clusters in creative businesses across UK regions. However, this is not the case for clusters of creative jobs, which are predominantly located in London.
The interconnectedness of creative businesses can support the emergence of broader creative corridors, linking urban hubs into dynamic networks of creative places that facilitate innovation and cultural production.