High House Production Park: inspiring vocations and delivering skills for success

• Employment • Attractiveness of the territory • Urban regeneration • Skills • Education

Context is a small borough (160,000 inhabitants) located between the English county of and in commuting distance of London. Thurrock is also part of the so-called “green belt” (70% of its territory is classified as such), where urban development borders large countryside areas and farmlands. The area’s economy was traditionally based on industry and other low-skill jobs, covering sectors such as construction, retail, transport and logistics. The area is now being transformed through a growth programme in which the creative and cultural sector plays a key part, with a view to bringing more qualified employment opportunities locally. Thurrock also has a history as a film location: the famous films “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, “Four Weddings and a Funeral”, “Batman Begins” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” having been partially shot here. Thurrock’s cultural and creative industries have been identified as priority sectors within Thurrock’s Economic Development and Community Regeneration Strategies. The development of CCIs pursues local development objectives: direct employment of local people, improving perceptions, and profiling the area to attract external investment. Finally, CCI policies are set to inspire vocations among local people for them to gain higher qualifications and enter higher entry-level jobs. In particular, in 2008 Thurrock adopted an Economic Development Strategy which sought to generate growth and higher-skill employment, where CCIs are identified as a high potential sector. CCI are also recognised as a key sector by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), which comprises partnerships between local businesses and local authorities that decide investment priorities to generate growth at local level (and are involved in the management of structural funds). High House Production Park

High House Production Park (HHPP) is a new charity Based on these first partnerships and actions, local established to support an international centre of dynamics have significantly accelerated. In 2013 excellence for creative industries in Thurrock in order the “Creative & Cultural Skills Backstage Centre” to open up new perspectives for local development. was launched, providing a large-scale production, It is in line with Thurrock’s growth programme, rehearsal and training venue for performance, which focuses on opportunities (proximity to broadcast and live events. The first national College London, strong partnerships across public, private for Culture and Creativity will also open its doors in and voluntary sectors) rather than existing issues, Thurrock in 2016. In parallel, Acme Studios opened in order to reimagine the area in a new context and the High House Artists’ Studios in October 2013, change locals’ perspectives. with 40 artistic studios and four residency studios at affordable prices. The first phase of development of the 14-acre (around 56,000 sqm) site was completed in 2010 with As a result of this first phase, HHPP has a large the opening of the ’s Bob and the offering of spaces to hire temporarily for different Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop. It strongly creative businesses (from business meetings to film focused on local capacity building, and many actions shooting and rehearsal rooms). Enhancing the strong were devoted to skills development and activating local capacity building component of the project, this local communities around the project. Giving a new flexible offer also enables HHPP to use effectively its vision to local communities and scaling up the local close proximity to attract London-based CCIs. economy indeed required strong skill development actions. A large-scale transformation like High House Production Park supports a new growing sector The initiative has demonstrated steady development in the economy. By delivering new skills and job and gradually managed to engage a wide array opportunities, it benefits Thurrock’s strategy of of partners. In particular, the Royal Opera House inspiring new vocations among local people. has been working with local communities, leading to the establishment of the Royal Opera House Challenges Thurrock Community Chorus, which now has 140 members. Such partnerships can also be brokered The Economic Development Strategy developed in through targeted policies. In 2014, 2008 set out the existing challenges for Thurrock, commissioned the Royal Opera House to coordinate including: a cultural education programme in partnership with Thurrock schools (South Essex College and University • The need for new employment opportunities in of the Arts London). Within this partnership the Royal an area with a growing population. Opera House has established a new degree course • A relatively unbalanced employment base, in Costume Design and Construction to be delivered focused on primary and secondary economic from the centre’s workrooms. sectors, transport, logistics, port functions, retail and industry – with a need to diversify towards a more knowledge-based economy. • A weak skills base with low qualification levels. • Socio-economic disadvantage concentrated in particular areas. • Low levels of business formation. • Infrastructure constraints. Budget and financing Impact The funds were allocated differently for each High House Artists’ Studios are fully occupied, with a particular project hosted by the HHPP, but overall waiting list for artists’ studios with rents significantly funding mostly came from public budgets (national, below those in neighbouring central London. Acme’s regional and borough’s funds). The Costume Centre, other recent projects with commercial or social for instance, is funded through a grant from the housing developers create permanent, affordable European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in studios as part of larger mixed-use developments. In partnership with the Royal Opera House, South Essex 2014, HHPP was used by more than 5,000 people for College, Thurrock Council, Bob and Tamar Manoukian training purposes, and 35 schools-. and Foyle Foundation. In total, it is estimated that the whole project amounts to around €30 million, with Building on the success of HHPP, the Council of Arts Council contributing €11.2 million (£8 Thurrock has issued a statement of its strategic million) and the East England Development Agency priorities for arts, heritage and culture: “Unleashing €9.85 million (£7 million). Creative Ambition”. This consists of three propositions that together constitute a new focus: a cultural entitlement programme for every young person in Sustainability Thurrock; an enterprise and innovation programme HHPP is raising Thurrock’s profile in the creative to attract, locate and develop creative businesses in sector in the UK and internationally. This is key to Thurrock and provide the skilled workforce that they securing further investment including the proposal need; a creative place-making programme that takes to develop a 600,000 sqft film and television studio a culture-led approach to engaging communities complex just two miles away (in the Purfleet area), with the physical redevelopment and future use of in 2018. It is estimated that by 2017 High House key sites and buildings in Thurrock. Production Park will have attracted in the region of £50 million (around €70 million) of investment from a wide variety of public and private sources. For the site itself, the strategy is to continue to develop in order to expand the cluster of creative businesses and nurture an ethos of collaboration between park tenants and the wider community. It is envisaged the park will become self-sustaining, drawing its income primarily from the service charges/rent each tenant pays. Transferability

Success factors: Tips HHPP is the sum of collaborative effort and acumen, A sustained and enduring vision of the future aligned resources and a high degree of trust. This and collective ambition, beyond individuals has driven positive change in cultural and training (and supporting NGOs) which have come opportunities, as well as the profile and perception of and gone. Despite the changes, a deep- the area. It has acted as an example for future public/ rooted commitment to HHPP remains private partnerships. embedded in the institutions engaged in the Obstacles: project partnership. HHPP has weathered a recession, the accompanying Maintaining momentum and a can-do slowdown in development as well public sector cuts. approach - telling a compelling story of a The initial ambition of the project was nevertheless better future was critical for getting partners maintained. on board ready to work fast. Deeper collaboration to unlock hidden value. Working in partnerships has provided a strong added value in this respect. Management level and partners Expert brokers and a shared vocabulary. It HHPP is the result of long-term collaboration has been important to have within the project between the Royal Opera House, Creative & Cultural individuals who enable all partners to share Skills, Acme Studios, Thurrock Council, Arts Council an understanding of the different facets of England, together with the Departments of Business the project, so that creative synergies can be Innovation and Skills, Communities and Local spotted and optimised. Government and their agencies. In 2011, HHPP Ltd transferred from the public sector into the charitable Nurturing a wider sphere of influence. The sector and is now led by a Board of Trustees and a great connections the project has now small executive team. resulted in new investment streams and successful bids for further site development. In this context, HHPP has set up a Creative Industries Business Leaders Group, supporting the SELEP with evidence and ideas about how to increase the growth of creative industries. Leading companies from the sector are involved, including: Firstsite, Turner Contemporary, Jerwood Gallery, Historic Dockyards Chatham, and Folkestone Creative Foundation. The group is working on initiatives in their local areas and coming together to deliver LEP-wide initiatives for creative-led business support and skills development. SELEP has recognised High House Production Park in Thurrock as an international centre for the creative and cultural industries that has rapidly grown in importance to the local economy.

Links : Contact : http://hhpp.org.uk/ Andrea Stark, Chief Executive of High House Production Park [email protected]

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