Creative Edinburgh is an organisation with almost 600 members in the capital. They range from video producers to computer games developers, from publishers to graphic designers. They’ve been brought together to see there’s any synergy between them, something which would enable them to form new partnerships, to produce innovative and enterprising new ideas and ultimately contribute to the city’s economic development.
In total, the digital, media and creative industries are believed to be worth around £6 billion a year to Scotland. That makes it one of the largest sectors in the country. Bigger than tourism, it’s said to be growing at five per cent a year and it employs already 60,000 people in relatively-high value jobs, up to a third of them in Edinburgh.
A small group is currently visiting Toronto to meet similar businesses from Ontario. Some of the senior members spent time with the President and Chief Executive of Interactive Ontario, an industry body that was set up eleven years ago. It’s encountered and dealt with many of the issues now facing the fledgling organisation in Edinburgh. The Caledonian Mercury was able to discuss these with them after their meeting: