Creative economy and creative places
The Fifth Sector offers specialist strategic and economic development consultancy within the Digital and Creative Economy. Our Places platform pulls live data from more than thirty active feeds to produce up-to-the-minute mapping and sector intelligence that shows you what is happening right now, with a place-specific lens of how that has changed over the preceding decade.. We use that to inform the development of robust strategies and business plans that reflect the importance of a ‘mixed economy’ of cultural, creative, social and tech enterprises in building sustainable places.
For more background on our vision of the future creative economy, check out our blog.
Research, strategies, and place making
dock10 Studios
MediaCity’s Createch Cluster
Client: Salford City Council
The Fifth Sector developed an innovative approach to social network analysis to visualise the relationships between companies, freelancers and institutions connected to the MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub. The findings pointed to the need for a comprehensive realignment of the broadcast, animation, audio and immersive tech sectors in Greater Manchester.
For further details contact culture@thefifthsector.co.uk
Liverpool City Region Music Economy Report (2026)
Working with Dr Mathew Flynn of University of Liverpool’s Institute of Popular Music and the Music Futures cluster, Iain Bennett of The Fifth Sector developed an innovative methodology that combines social network and economic analysis to come up with a dynamic model of Liverpool City Region’s music ecosystem and the value it creates. Read the full report here.
CoSTAR National Lab
Surrey+ Creative Constellation
University for the Creative Arts and Surrey County Council
Surrey and its surrounding areas are home to some of the most significant creative technology and production hubs in the UK, including Pinewood Studios, the Guildford games cluster and the CoSTAR national hub. The Fifth Sector has carried out extensive mapping and consultation to coordinate the activities of creative and tech clusters across the region to power. creative innovation and growth throughout the UK
Read the executive summary of our report here.
Creative Kirklees
Kirklees Creative Economic Impact
Client: Kirklees Council
Research from The Fifth Sector, published in the Kirklees Creative Economic Impact Report 2024, highlighted the £250 million contribution made by freelancers and microbusinesses to the creative economy in Kirklees. The 2026 report is due out this Autumn.
Leicester CityFest
Leicester Creative Industries Strategy
Client: Leicester City Council
Leicester is one of the most diverse and dynamic creative clusters in the UK. The Fifth Sector carried out extensive research and consultation toward the development of a new Creative Industries strategy for the city, summarised in the Leicester Leading report of 2024.
MIMA, Middlesbrough
Tees Valley Creative Economy
Client: Tees Valley Combined Authority
The Fifth Sector’s mapping of Tees Valley’s Cultural and Creative Industries revealed a diverse and vibrant independent creative sector far larger than suggested by national statistics. Read the executive summary of the baseline report here.