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Amazon Launches Regional Creatives Fund to Boost Creative Industry Careers in UK

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Amazon today launches the Regional Creatives Fund, a £4.2 billion investment in the UK's creative industries since 2010, with up to £30,000 grants available to UK charities that develop creative industry career pathways. The fund aims to increase access to careers in the creative industries for people from underserved communities, such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Applications are open now for organisations in Edinburgh and across the UK that help underserved communities access careers in publishing, music, gaming, film, TV, fashion, advertising, and more.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Regional Creatives Fund is a £4.2 billion investment by Amazon in the UK's creative industries since 2010.
  • Up to £30,000 grants are available to UK charities that develop creative industry career pathways.
  • The fund aims to increase access to careers in the creative industries for people from underserved communities.
  • Applications are open now for organisations in Edinburgh and across the UK that help underserved communities access careers in publishing, music, gaming, film, TV, fashion, advertising, and more.
  • The fund will support charities with a proven track record of delivering impactful skills projects, with a focus on upskilling people from underserved communities for careers in creative industries.
  • A study from The Sutton Trust shows that younger adults from working-class backgrounds are four times less likely to work in the creative industries compared to their middle-class peers.
  • Data from Arts Council England shows only 9% of the creative workforce identifies as disabled, compared to 22% of the general working-age population.
  • Unique, pro bono Amazon support will be provided to charities, including mentoring, work experience, placement opportunities, and digital training from creative minds at Amazon Music, Prime Video, Amazon Games, and other Amazon departments.
  • Examples of programmes that a Regional Creatives Fund grant can be used for include funding for placements in game development studios, music production training, and portfolio development for future advertising creatives.
  • A dedicated judging panel will assess funding applications across five key areas, including the energy, optimism, and creative purpose of the proposal, its potential to deliver real impact, its delivery plan, its focus on inclusion, and its potential to grow existing programmes.
  • Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "I want every young person to have the opportunity to build a successful career within the creative industries, which is one of this country's greatest assets."
  • Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee and RCF Board Member added: "Amazon's Regional Creatives Fund is exactly the kind of initiative we need - offering substantial grants and practical support to help level the playing field."

Statistics:

  • Amazon has invested over £4.2 billion in the UK's creative industries since 2010.
  • Over 2,000 people permanently work across Amazon's Film and TV, music and audio, books and publishing, fashion, and gaming businesses in the UK.
  • Supporting 16,000 additional jobs in the UK's creative industries.
  • Only 9% of the creative workforce identifies as disabled, compared to 22% of the general working-age population.
  • Younger adults from working-class backgrounds are four times less likely to work in the creative industries compared to their middle-class peers.
  • The Step-Up Fund, a collaboration between Amazon Music and the Featured Artists Coalition, has distributed £250,000 to more than 30 UK musicians since its inception.

Sources:

  • About the Amazon Regional Creatives Fund: https://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/news/community/amazon-regional-creatives-fund
  • Amazon's creative industries footprint: https://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/news/community/amazon-regional-creatives-fund
  • The Sutton Trust study: https://www.suttontrust.com/research/
  • Arts Council England data: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/
  • The Step-Up Fund: https://www.featuredartistscoalition.org/step-up-fund

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