Creative Alchemy
Using evidence and insights to forge new syntheses of culture, creative industries, digital technology, place and purpose-driven business.
100 projects over a decade, across the UK and internationally
The Fifth Sector was founded in 2011, and has delivered over 100 projects, across the UK and internationally, working in partnership with leading specialists and industry experts.
Gaining a strong track record of delivering profitable growth to a range of businesses, universities, cultural organisations and public sector agencies,
The Fifth Sector provides cities and regions with research, insight and tools to develop resilient, place-based strategies and effective action plans to boost growth of and investment in the creative and digital economy through innovation, capital projects, skills development and digital connectivity.
The Fifth Sector helps digital/creative businesses and cultural organisations develop new products and services, secure investments, engage with universities, develop plans for collaborative research and get advice and support in bidding for R&D funds.
The Fifth Sector connects universities and innovation agencies with early-stage and high growth businesses in the creative and digital economy, providing a ‘third space’ for collaborative research and innovation.
Bringing culture, technology, place and purpose-driven business together
Iain Bennett of The Fifth Sector wrote the regional strategy for digital and creative industries which underpinned the £1 billion development of MediaCityUK in Salford and the BBC’s relocation of 6 departments and 3,000 staff.
He was the author of WIPO’s 2017 guide, “How to Make a Living in the Creative Industries” and Creative Industries Council’s “Toolkit for Cities and Regions”, and designed a framework for the evaluation of sharing cities worldwide for Nesta.
From 2012-14 he was project manager for the Department for Culture, Media & Sport’s £150m Superconnected Cities programme, directing Government investment in digital infrastructure and innovation in London, Birmingham, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Salford.
Iain has led research into the fast-growing immersive content and technology sector for organisations including Innovate UK, Digital Catapult, University of Edinburgh and Liverpool City Region Growth Platform. He advised Festivals Edinburgh on international best practice in digital festivals technology; devised a blueprint for growth of the video games industry in Coventry & Warwickshire; authored a feasibility study and action plan for the development of the fashion sector in East London for Greater London Authority and London College of Fashion; wrote a music strategy for Liverpool; prepared an action plan for the film sector in Brimingham for BFI; and wrote the 2014 creative industries trade and inward investment strategy for UKTI (now the Department for International Trade).
