Slough Creative Academy brings enterprise and creativity to the South East

Although Slough’s traditional manufacturing industry has suffered sharp decline in the past decade, the local economy has managed to flourish due to the growth in its service sector. The Thames Valley is now one of Europe’s top five business locations and many of the world’s top 50 companies have bases in the town. In particular, Slough is becoming an emerging base for the film industry, with industry leaders such as Pinewood Studios, Ealing Studios, Shepperton and Beaconsfield all within close proximity.

However, for many of the ethnic minority groups and disadvantaged families who originally settled in Slough for the manual and semi-skilled work on Slough Trading Estate, the story has not been so positive. Lacking appropriate skills and education, many of them have been unable to compete in the local job market as manufacturing industry jobs have been replaced with higher skilled service sector employment. This has lead to high unemployment among those born in Slough and the majority of highly paid local jobs going to professionals from other areas.

The Slough Creative Academy was established in 2003 through The European Union’s Equal Programme, to help address Slough’s ever-increasing skills gap, which particularly impacts local ethnic minority groups. The Academy provides educational programmes and training schemes ranging from video production and singing to music technology and dance. It offers training opportunities in many formats, including NVQs, courses at degree level and work experience placements.

In addition to its educational programmes, the Academy offers one-to-one business advice, funding and on-going support to local creative businesses. Since 2003, the Academy has worked with over 5,000 local people and helped set up 30 young businesses, including the Fusion Dance Company, Full Circle Films and Two Left Feet.

Now an integral part of the local community, the Slough Creative Academy has given disaffected local people the opportunity to become part of the current and future economic success of the town. Its achievements have been widely recognized nationally and locally and in 2004 the Academy was a finalist in the Municipal Journal’s Community Initiative of the Year Awards.

Many of the companies they support are young businesses set up by ex-Academy students such as Dominique Oliver who studied film at the academy and has since gone on to set up Resource Productions. Dominique’s production company specializes in providing video production workshops to young people and community groups. She has found the support of the Academy invaluable, saying:

‘Since setting up Resource Productions I have received a constant stream of support and advice from the Slough Creative Academy. As well as providing funding, they have helped me generate new business by helping me to network with other companies. Their injection of support has been fantastic and has really helped turn my business into a success.’

Slough Creative Academy was the regional winner of the 2007 Enterprising Britain competition for the South East of England.

Commenting on the Slough Creative Academy, Julie Kapsalis, Head of Enterprise Culture said:

“SEEDA is delighted to recognise the success of the Creative Academy in Slough and its impact on the local economy. Their innovative approach to enterprise and the creative sector has seen real opportunities created for young people in Slough. From dance to film making, the Creative Academy has worked with a host of local community partners to break down some of Slough toughest barriers and fears to employment. The project has had a major impact in ensuring that higher numbers of skilled young people enter employment. We wish them the very best in the Enterprising Britain 2007 Awards’ national finals.”