Letter to Editor: Hackney Creative Enterprise Zone
Dear Editor,
Our creative sector is vital to our capital’s economy and cultural life, growing faster than any other in the UK and providing one in six Londoners with a job.
However, with creative businesses facing ever-increasing rents and operational costs, they are often being outpaced by the speed of development in our city and consequently priced out of the local areas that they have helped to revitalise.
Last week, I was delighted to see City Hall take a significant step to protect our local creative industries sector, and recognise Hackney as one of London’s six new Creative Enterprise Zones, granting a share of over £11 million of funding.
This will go a long way towards enabling the council to deliver new jobs and training opportunities for local people, and to put measures in place to ensure the availability of thousands of square metres of new affordable workspace.
With the looming uncertainty of Brexit and the Government’s continued underinvestment in our communities, London must remain open to creative industries enterprises.
Yours,
Jennette Arnold OBE AM
London Assembly Member for North East (Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest)
Notes to editors
Hackney Wick and Fish Island – Boroughs of Hackney and Tower Hamlets
- Protecting one of the most significant and recognisable creative quarters in the world by ensuring that planning powers help develop a pipeline of affordable workspace in the area
- Working with the borough employment services to help local people develop skills and provide training opportunities and internships in the cultural, creative, digital and tech sectors
- We will be developing a Good Growth service for CEZ employers which will offer easy access to apprenticeships, internships and tailored business support as part of a commitment to inclusive growth
- Strengthening connections with plans for East Bank on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, to create a powerhouse of culture, education, innovation and growth