IST & Creative UK Launch New Professional Register for the Creative Industries

13 March 2023

Creative UK and the IST (Institute of Science & Technology) are excited to announce that agreement has been reached to introduce a new Professional Registration Framework for the technical workforce within the creative industries. Endorsed by Creative UK, the Creative Registration Framework (CRF) will aim to provide parity of professional accreditation with existing schemes currently available to the science and engineering sector workforces (eg professional registers offered by the Science Council and the Engineering Council).

Terry Croft MBE, Chair of the IST said “We have been working with Creative UK and other arts organisations for some time now and although delayed by the pandemic for more than a year, all parties were determined to get over the line and deliver a professional register for the Creative Industries. We have listened to the technical communities across the sectors, and their demand for a specific creative industries register, and now this has come to fruition. I look forward to the roll out in 2023 and the award of the first certificates.”

Lee Hornsby, Lead Development & Partnerships Manager, Creative UK said “The UK’s Creative Industries are driven by our exceptionally talented, innovative, and entrepreneurial workforce; experts in their creative disciplines and learning all the time. It makes complete sense that those creatives have additional opportunities to receive further accreditation as their careers and skills develop, and I’m delighted to be working with the IST on delivering this in line with those working in our crucial STEM fields. I’m particularly excited to develop this first and foremost with colleagues working in creative higher and further education.”

Both parties have agreed that the next stage in development of the Register is to commence immediately, managed by the IST, in close collaboration with Creative UK and supported by a Steering Group comprising representatives from key stakeholders, providing guidance and direction, and related committees overseeing competencies and regulations.

It is envisaged that registrations awarded under the new CRF will become available from early in 2023, with the initial rollout focussing on the creative industries educational sector.

Creative UK

Creative UK is the national network for the Creative Industries. We are an independent membership organisation that champions the value of the Creative Industries. We know that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Creative UK connects talent, business and organisations across the Creative Industries; from arts and culture, film and TV and video games to design, publishing and architecture and everything in between. At Creative UK, we support companies and people working in the creative sector by offering development opportunities at a local and national level, through our network of partners across the UK. We invest by identifying untapped potential to accelerate growth, providing tailor made resources and financial expertise. We do all of this because we believe in the power of creativity to change lives. wearecreative.uk

For further information contact: lee@wearecreative.uk

Institute of Science & Technology (IST)

The IST is the professional body for specialist, technical and managerial staff. Whilst we have been serving our members for over 70 years, our aim is to continually move forward and expand our horizons so that we can best position ourselves to support our members, and the wider technical community, in respect of their needs within the ever-changing and challenging 21st century. We reach out to provide focused support for technical practitioners, specialists and managers in the creative, digital, engineering and science technologies, working across a broad range of sectors including industry, local authorities, schools, FE, HE, research/analytical/health facilities, government departments and organisations in the UK and overseas.

We are licenced by the Science Council to award to their science/technical registers at Chartered Scientist (CSci), Registered Scientist (RSci) and Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) levels. 

For further information contact: office@istonline.org.uk