Creative North London to boost local design economy

Creative London is to launch the first of its physical hubs, dedicated to growing creative businesses in London’s Wood Green, on 18 November.

Called Creative North London, the centre is tasked with generating 680 new jobs and 1500 new creative businesses, in the London boroughs of Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest by 2007.

Housed in a former chocolate factory, it will offer 280 studios for creative businesses and provide ‘guidance and information’ for entrepreneurs, established businesses and start-ups, across its catchment area, says Collage Arts director Manoj Ambasna, who is leading the programme. ‘We’ll be delivering a bespoke service, offering everything from business planning to mentoring,’ he explains.

Funding for the project is from the European Community and Creative London.

The hub is the first of ten such centres, planned for the capital by the London Development Agency, Greater London Authority and the Department for Culture Media and Sport, that have identified the creative industries as a means to regenerate specific areas, generate economic wealth and create employment.

In London the creative and cultural industries generate £25-29bn per annum and employ 20 per cent of the capital’s workforce. London accounts for 30 per cent of the revenues from creative industries in the UK.