Government to back UK talent.

Creative industries to recieve substantial financial backing in wake of document on the next generation of talent

The Government has thrown its weight behind new artistic and music business talent under plans to bring the creative industries into the mainstream of the UK economy.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport last Friday published its long-awaited document on the future of the creative industries, Creative Britain - New Talents For The New Economy.

It included plans for a pilot scheme to create a network of "sustainable community rehearsal spaces" to nurture new talent, as well as a new Creative Apprenticeship scheme, which aims to provide up to 5,000 formal apprenticeships a year by 2013 through partners such as Universal Music Group.

And, with the stated aims of "developing world-class talent" and "turning talent into jobs", the Government has put its money where its mouth is.

The apprenticeship scheme will be backed by Government funding to match employer contribution, while it has allocated #0.5m for rehearsal spaces, a sum that British Music Rights CEO Feargal Sharkey says is "just a bit of pump funding" to start building the scheme up but could eventually run into millions.

Sharkey, who sat on a high-level steering group overseeing the development of the document, says he has been in talks with the Government over its Unclaimed Assets Scheme, whereby money in dormant bank and building society accounts will be reinvested in "society", including schemes that benefit young people.