(inc ICT, digital, software, multimedia, games development, film, advertising)

At the forefront of the Creative and Digital Economy

Liverpool's creative and digital industry is a prosperous, vibrant and confident sector full of creative people, businesses and ideas. The North West, particularly Liverpool, has played a major role in the development of the UK games industry, a role reflected by the depth of interactive software talent across the region, as the sector continues to expand Liverpool is in a prime position to offer the perfect UK base.

Key sector strengths are: Gaming & Digital, New Media (including design and communications), Film & TV and Music.

Daresbury Innovation Centre, inside Daresbury & ic2 at Liverpool Science Park

Key Industry Features and Benefits

• Games development in the region generates £300m annually, provides more than 1,600 direct jobs and has a supply chain that brings in another 3,000
• The Digital and Creative sector in the region employs over 28,000 people in more than 4,500 enterprises encompassing 13 subsectors
• The continued development of a regional centre of excellence, Liverpool Innovation Park focuses on developing knowledge and business networks between innovative organisations within the City Region and beyond for the benefit of its occupiers.
• Liverpool Science Park provides a home for developing knowledge based companies by offering a accommodation and business support. Following the success of its innovation centre (ic1), Liverpool Science Park's second state-of-the art facility ic2 opened its doors in June 2009. Situated in the striking environs of Liverpool's metropolitan cathedral, ic2 provides 40,000 sq ft of highly specified flexible office and laboratory compatible accommodation
• The Daresbury Innovation Centre is situated at the heart of the Daresbury Science & Innovation Centre. Having rapidly become a magnet for world class science and innovation, this stunningly designed building provides a superb location for hi tech SMEs and forms the focal point of the powerful Daresbury SIC network. The Hartree Centre will be a new world leading computational sciences centre for the UK following a £50million investment at the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus.
• The ICDC (International Centre for Digital Content) is a world leader in creating innovative digital content solutions. The centre is involved in developing solutions for Interactive TV, mobile phone and wireless users, which can also include Bluetooth and GPS technologies, for markets as diverse as tourism, health, e-learning and games.
• AIMES (Advanced Internet Methods and Emergent Systems) is a focus for advanced internet technologies, particularly grid computing. This research and technology transfer centre is hosted by The University of Liverpool.
• Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has spearheaded a £24.1million Art and Design Academy. The Academy is at the leading edge of teaching, research and knowledge transfer in art and design and will incorporate the Liverpool Screen School.
• Liverpool's growing film and TV sector means it is now the most filmed UK city outside London.
• FACT (Foundation for Art & Creative Technology) based in the city centre is the UK's leading organisation for the development, support and exhibition of film, video and new and emerging media.
  

IT, Digital and Creative companies include:
SCEE (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe); Rebellion, 3D Creation Studios, Evolution Studios, SGI (Silicon Graphics Inc), Bizarre Creations(Part of ATVI), Lime Pictures, THQ inc, Sun Microsystems, Mando Group, IBM and River Media.

Key support organisations for companies in the IT, digital and creative sectors are Liverpool Vision and Merseyside ACME (Arts, Culture & Media Enterprise).

For more information about this sector contact Neil Bradley, Corporate Sales Manager on 07736002253