Coventry has unveiled an ambitious plan to accelerate the growth of its creative industries, positioning the city — alongside Warwickshire — as one of the UK’s leading centres for creativity and technology.

The new strategy has emerged from a partnership between Coventry City Council and the city’s two universities, resulting in one of the first locally led creative industries strategies of its kind in the UK. The approach reflects a growing recognition of the sector’s economic importance and its potential to attract investment, talent and innovation.

A Transformational Moment for the Creative Sector

Addressing councillors this week, the council’s head of culture and creative economy outlined how Coventry is uniquely placed to capitalise on its creative strengths. The role itself is jointly funded by the city’s universities, highlighting the depth of collaboration between higher education and local government.

The strategy builds on Coventry’s legacy as UK City of Culture 2021 and its growing reputation for combining creativity with advanced technology. With two major universities and a strong track record in innovation, the city is aiming to convert creative potential into long-term economic progress.

A Major Contributor to the Local Economy

Creative industries already represent a substantial part of Coventry’s economy. More than one in ten local businesses operate within the sector, supporting thousands of jobs across creative and cultural roles. Beyond specialist studios and agencies, creative skills are embedded across the wider economy — from design roles in automotive manufacturing to marketing and digital teams in major service providers.

When considered alongside Warwickshire, the scale of the opportunity becomes even clearer. The wider sub-region is home to thousands of creative businesses and a significant concentration of game development studios, forming one of the strongest creative clusters in the UK. A particular strength lies in “createch”, where creative expertise and emerging technologies combine to deliver new products, services and experiences.

Turning Strategy Into Action

The new plan sets out a framework for turning creative growth into tangible outcomes. It aligns closely with national priorities outlined in the Government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan, strengthening the region’s case for future funding and investment.

At its core, the strategy aims to make Coventry one of the UK’s most inclusive and innovative creative cities — a place where people from all backgrounds can build sustainable careers. The creative sector is positioned not only as a cultural asset, but as a driver of economic growth, technological development and place identity.

Strong Political Backing

The strategy is expected to be formally approved at a forthcoming cabinet meeting, having already received strong support from councillors during scrutiny discussions.

Councillors highlighted the importance of having a clear, coordinated strategy in place, noting that it can help Coventry compete more effectively for funding and move faster than areas without a defined creative industries plan. They also emphasised that while many creative firms are small, their collective contribution to employment, self-employment and innovation is significant — comparable in scale to more traditional industries such as automotive manufacturing.

The role of the universities was singled out as a major strength, with their financial backing and expertise seen as critical to the success of the strategy. The partnership approach reflects a shared understanding that long-term economic development depends on collaboration across education, local government and industry.

A Platform for Future Growth

By aligning creative talent, technological innovation and institutional support, Coventry and Warwickshire are laying the foundations for a more resilient and diverse economy. If delivered successfully, the strategy could help the region attract new investment, retain skilled graduates and strengthen its position as a national hub for creative and digital innovation.

For Coventry, the plan represents not just a cultural vision, but a long-term economic opportunity — one that places creativity and technology at the heart of future growth.