This piece is by Jon Kingsbury, Vice-Chancellor of Ravensbourne University London.
London thrives on reinvention. From finance to fashion, film to fintech, the city has consistently led the world by blending creativity, technology and business. Today, as global competition intensifies and emerging industries reshape economies, London’s greatest opportunity lies in cementing its role as the epicentre of creative technology.
This is not simply about nurturing artists or engineers in isolation. It is about harnessing the space where creativity, technology and business meet — the intersection where new industries are born and where future jobs will be created. If London gets this right, it can continue to lead the world in industries that do not just entertain us, but shape how we live, work and trade. Talent is absolutely key to London’s success.
The global stakes
The UK’s creative industries already punch well above their weight. They contribute more than £115 billion annually to the economy — a figure larger than aerospace, automotive, life sciences and oil and gas combined. London is the beating heart of this sector, home to more than 1 in 4 creative jobs across the country. The city’s cultural diversity, international connectivity and world-class education ecosystem give it a natural edge.
Yet competition is intensifying. Cities such as New York, Berlin and Seoul are investing heavily in their creative and technology sectors, seeing them as future growth engines. London cannot afford to coast. To stay ahead, it must double down on the assets that make it unique: a deep talent pool, thriving innovation clusters, and a network of universities that are as entrepreneurial as they are academic.
London’s unique position
Why London? Because no other city combines the same density of creative industries, universities, financial services and global connections. The capital is home to leading firms in gaming, advertising, design and film; it is a magnet for international talent; and it has an unparalleled concentration of higher education institutions— more than 100 in total, educating over 500,000 students at any one time.
London’s universities are themselves major employers and drivers of innovation. They produce world-class research, attract billions in inward investment, and underpin the city’s reputation as a global knowledge hub.
Ravensbourne University London is one such example, pioneering “learning with industry” — embedding education with real-world projects at the intersection of design, media, technology and business.
Perhaps most importantly, London’s universities shape the workforce of tomorrow — the coders, storytellers, designers, entrepreneurs and innovators who will define the next generation of industries.
London remains – and must continue to be – a global city. Students from around the world are drawn here by academic excellence, cultural diversity and also by career prospects.
Seizing the opportunity
Policymakers must recognise creative industries as cornerstones of the UK’s future prosperity – which is why the government should explicitly include creative industries subjects within the forthcoming Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) alongside STEM and other priority areas.
Furthermore, London’s businesses must invest in developing their own creative technology capability, seeing education as a strategic partner rather than simply a recruitment pipeline.
If London is bold enough to reimagine education, it can secure not just its own future but help define the future of work and innovation for the world.
