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Creative Enterprise Zones are a Mayoral initiative to designate areas of London where artists and creative businesses can find permanent affordable space to work; are supported to start-up and grow; and where local people are helped to learn creative sector skills and access pathways to employment.

The programme launched in 2018. The zones are in Brent, Croydon, Haringey, Hounslow, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing, Waltham Forest, and Westminster, with a single zone across both Hackney and Tower Hamlets.

Our 2018-21 report, which you can read below, brings together data and learnings from London’s first six Creative Enterprise Zones established in 2018 - Brixton, Croydon, Deptford and New Cross, Hackney Wick and Fish Island, Hounslow, and Tottenham. Drawing on insights from workshops, data analysis, interviews, and case studies, it highlights the broad range of economic and social benefits from the zones across the first three years of the programme’s implementation.

Creative Enterprise Zone Impact Report 2018-21 - cover image

Creative Enterprise Zone Impact Report 2018-2021

What do Creative Enterprise Zones do?

Zones deliver against a three-year action plan which includes project delivery against the four pillars of the programme:

  • Space: creating permanent, affordable, creative workspace and live-work spaces at below-market rents and ensuring no net loss of space.
  • Providing skills and business support: building entrepreneurial skills and offering business support to artists, start-ups, sole traders, micro-sized and small businesses, developing career pathways and opportunities for progression into the creative industries and supporting sectors.
  • Policy: development and delivery of proactive policy approaches which support artists and creatives in Local Plans, housing and business rates policies.
  • Community engagement and socially inclusive places: embedding creative production in communities, creating socially inclusive places and strong links with education providers.

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