Hammersmith & Fulham has been accredited by the Mayor of London as one of nine Creative Enterprise Zones (CEZ) across London.
What it is
The CEZ programme seeks to support artists and encourage creative businesses growth, find and preserve affordable workspace and improve access to skills and employment opportunities for local people within the creative sector.
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham, said: "We're working to transform H&F into a mecca for artists and creative businesses. Drawing businesses to the area and creating affordable workspace is a major part of our pioneering Industrial Strategy."
What we do
H&F is a hotbed of cultural activity, creative businesses and innovative tech start-ups.
Our Industrial Strategy sets out our ambition to grow H&F's already strong creative and tech industries with an increasing innovation presence to become 'West Tech' – centred around the White City Innovation District, a hub for innovation, creativity, and collaboration.
Building on the borough's cultural and creative hub, the council acts as a 'creative connector' to help develop better links between the technical innovation and creative activity in our zone.
We will:
- provide opportunities for businesses to grow
- protect existing and increase new affordable workspace to help new creative businesses flourish
- grow employment and training opportunities within the creative sector
- support thousands of students through career-furthering programmes that promote the tech and creative industries and create opportunities to enter one of the borough's strongest sectors
- ensure that as many of our residents as possible can experience, engage with, and access opportunities in the creative sector
- create more interesting and vibrant places to live and work.
Our district
H&F's Creative Enterprise Zone stretches from Imperial College London's White City campus in the north of the zone to West Brompton Station in the south, including Shepherds Bush, the White City Innovation District, Olympia, and Earl's Court.
See a Map of H&F's CEZ.
Twenty-two per cent of the borough's businesses are within the creative sector.
It is home to a wide range of large media anchor institutions such as the BBC and ITV, as well as large educational institutions such as the Royal College of Art. Important cultural spaces such as the Bush Theatre and Olympia London also fall within the CEZ area.
Join the H&F Creative Hub
The H&F Creative Hub is a free network for Hammersmith & Fulham creatives looking to connect, collaborate and innovate with others in the borough.
If you are an artist, maker or creative business based in the borough, we'd like to invite you to be part of H&F's buzzing creative community.
Please fill in your details below and we'll be in touch about business opportunities and networking events.
How to get in touch
If you want to get in touch about any aspect of the Creative Enterprise Zone, or wish to provide you details to be included in any upcoming networking events, please email Claire Armitage, Creative Enterprise Zone Manager, at claire.armitage@lbhf.gov.uk.
Background
The CEZ programme is a Mayor of London scheme 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.
Since its launch in 2018, nearly 1,000 creative apprenticeships, training and work placements have been created through the CEZ programme across London, and by 2025, affordable workspace will have increased by 65,000sqm.