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The East of England is home to 3% of the total UK audio visual industries workforce, with significant clusters of interactive media industries in Cambridge. This is one of the most significant and fastest growing of the audio visual sectors in the UK. It employs around 53,100 people in the UK.

The East of England boasts six commercial film studios which represent 50% of the UK commercial studio facilities. The East is the second most filmed region in the UK after London.

The computer software development and interactive leisure software industry in Cambridge is a centre of excellence.

Applicants need to be highly skilled. Most enter after taking higher education courses.
It’s a tough business. More people want to work in it than there are jobs. You might have to do menial jobs on your way up the ladder.

What we think will happen

The computer games industry in the East of England is expected to continue to expand.

Once the recession has lifted some of the fastest occupational increases in the UK are expected to occur in design, media, artistic and literary related work.

Technological changes (including the shift to digital) will continue. The demand for multi-skilled workers will increase. Continuous skill development is important.

Many of the people employed in the media industries are self-employed. This is set to increase in the future.

The growth of broadband and other digital communication means it is possible to establish small businesses in rural locations.

New qualifications, called Diplomas, are being introduced in the next three years. These will help people prepare for university, college or work. Look out to see if the Diploma in Creative and Media is on offer locally.

Is this you?

An eye for shape and colour
Enjoy creative and practical work
A good eye for detail
Aware of trends in design
Technical and artistic ability
Inquisitive, persuasive
Good communication and persistent networking skills

What 16 year olds did in 2008

In Cambridgeshire in 2008 a total of 504 year 11 school leavers from local schools started full-time employment or work-based training. No one went directly into creative and media related work. Most people interested in these sorts of jobs continued developing their skills and knowledge at school or college.