Collaboration among Bristol’s creative firms has helped put the city in the top 10 for growth in a new report highlighting the strength of the sector in the UK’s regions.
Bristol ranks eighth overall in the table of UK provincial cities – with Manchester taking top spot – but it scores higher than many other cities in the rankings for its qualified workforce, number of small firms in the sector and number of millennials. 
The report, by international real estate advice group CBRE, names Engine Shed, Bristol’s acclaimed innovation hub at Temple Meads, as a prime example of the type of building driving the sector in the regions and playing a pivotal role in developing the type of ecosystems essential for further growth.
A photo of Engine Shed’s business lounge takes up the entire front page of the report.
The publication, Creative Regions, is the first of its kind to showcase the Top 25 Regional Creative talent markets in the UK outside of London.
It points out that Bristol already hosts a wide range of successful creative businesses and is home to the BBC’s Natural History Unit and is the largest centre for natural history film-making in the world.
“There are also a large array of tech, branding, film and gaming businesses present in the market,” it says of the city.
“Hi-tech hubs in the area include the Engine Shed, the Bristol Robotics Lab, the Bristol and Bath Science Park and the Bristol Games Hub. Businesses at these hubs benefit from access to deep talent pools, proximity to world-class universities, high-speed internet via fibre optics and opportunity to share knowledge and network with a thriving community of digital businesses.”
CBRE senior director Andy Sayner said “The tech phenomena looks set to continue in the UK. Technology and creative industries, in general are not affected by regulatory restrictions or fears over single market access.
“Contrary to common perception, large numbers of these companies are based outside of the capital and we expect this trend to continue. Evidence shows that regional cities such as Bristol also have a critical mass of talent necessary to compete successfully in this sector.
“There are also many other tempting reasons to locate in the area including quality of life, access to large talent pools, cost of living and proximity to London. Indeed, given the growing cost of higher education, and the cost of living in London, the large regional centres such as Bristol are increasingly proving an attractive proposition for graduates and employers.”
Matt Cross, head of inward investment at Invest Bristol & Bath, stressed that collaboration in Bristol set the city apart.
“We are fortunate that we have such a collaborative creative sector in our region. Companies talk to each other and this allows growth in an independent and unique way. We have a huge talent base, who want to stay in Bristol so the sector is full of innovative and new start-ups as people collaborate and move forward towards solving problems and providing creative industry solutions.
“The region is blessed with tech incubators and organisations such as Desk Lodge, SETSquared and Engine Shed, who challenge the traditional way of working. It’s about working smarter, and Bristol is ideally equipped for our businesses to do that.”
CBRE Research associate director Emma Jackson added: “As this sector continues to grow, the choice of office space and where to locate will be ever more critical to its sustainability and future growth. Through an in-depth understanding of the unique characteristics and potential of particular markets, which this new research offers, businesses will be better placed to make effective, cost efficient and informed property decisions that will greatly aid in the quest to attract and also crucially to retain the best talent to create competitive advantage”.
The top 10 cities in the report, in order, are Manchester, Reading, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Glasgow, Oxford, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton and Leeds. For a pdf of the report click here
