How London’s Creative Enterprise Zones are supporting artists

Launched in 2017 by the Mayor of London, Creative Enterprise Zones safeguard affordable creative workspaces, foster cultural infrastructure, and expand access to creative careers. With 12 zones across 13 boroughs, the programme has supported over 1,000 training placements and helped grow creative businesses despite economic pressures. By embedding equity, sustainability, and economic strategy into cultural policy, Creative Enterprise Zones are shaping a more inclusive and resilient future for London’s creative economy. 

Each Creative Enterprise Zone develops a detailed local action plan to increase affordable creative workspace, provide business support, and expand creative skills and job opportunities – particularly for underrepresented communities. The goal is to embed culture and creativity in place-based economic strategies while empowering artists and makers to put down long-term roots. 

Addressing economic and spatial challenges 

London’s creative industries contribute over £51.7 billion annually, accounting for 12.1% of the capital’s economy. In 2021, one in every five jobs in London was in the creative economy. Yet these sectors remain vulnerable to gentrification, high property values, and redevelopment pressures that drive out small creative enterprises and studios. 

Creative Enterprise Zones aim to offset these pressures through targeted interventions that protect existing cultural infrastructure and enable future growth. These include policies that secure and expand creative workspaces, funding for green capital improvements, and cross-sector partnerships that strengthen creative employment pipelines. 

Measurable results across 12 zones 

Since 2018, 12 Creative Enterprise Zones have been established across 13 London boroughs, backed by £15 million in Mayoral investment. These zones have delivered nearly 1,000 creative training and work placements, with the goal of supporting 800 creative businesses and providing 500 jobs by 2026. Plans are underway to deliver 71,000 square metres of affordable creative workspace and support 5,000 young people to enter the industry. 

The programme’s 2023 impact report shows early Creative Enterprise Zones are outperforming the broader creative sector in recovery post-pandemic. Between 2018 and 2021, creative business growth in the zones rose by 22%, even as London overall experienced a 4% decline. 

Driving equity and sustainability through culture 

The Creative Enterprise Zone model is rooted in equity, access, and sustainability. A £1.2 million Sustainability Capital Grant Fund is improving energy efficiency across nearly 8,000 square metres of creative workspace, contributing to the Mayor’s net zero 2030 target. In 2024, four zones collaborated on the West London Film and TV Skills Festival, where 1,500 young people met 50+ employers including Disney, Sky, and TikTok Academy. 

As a place-based policy success story, Creative Enterprise Zones are helping to institutionalise cultural infrastructure, grow the creative workforce, and diversify who gets to shape London’s creative future. The Mayor has committed to expanding the programme to more boroughs by 2028, solidifying Creative Enterprise Zones as a core element of London’s long-term cultural policy. 

---