Slough: the U.K.’s emerging hub for creative industries.

Slough may not be Hollywood but it is fast becoming a hidden gem for the creative industries. With affordable, well-connected spaces and a thriving community spirit, the town is attracting media, design, gaming, and digital content creators who are increasingly priced out of central London. For media production companies, workspace developers, and advocates of the creative economy, Slough offers an exciting opportunity to shape the next big hub for innovation and storytelling.

A Hub for Talent

According to research from the University of Birmingham, Slough has talented communities with growing opportunities for young people to sustain successful careers locally in the creative industries. In a research paper, it is stated that there are some highly successful local companies and organisations, particularly in screen and immersive technologies, that take advantage of the region’s infrastructure in this area.

Local Creativity on Show

The opening of The Curve in 2016, a £22 million purpose-built theatre and entertainment venue, stands as a landmark example of how to successfully embed the creative and cultural industries within Slough. But there is even more potential with further opportunities for Slough’s parks, town centre, streets, and open spaces to provide a focus and site for creative, cultural, and heritage activities, thanks to the outstanding digital infrastructure. When combined with the pace of change, particularly in the creative digital economies, there is a huge opportunity to develop infrastructure in partnership with education providers, communities, and industry experts.

Pat Hayes, Executive Director of Housing, Property, and Regeneration at Slough Borough Council says: “Slough is on the cusp of something truly exciting. We have the physical space, the infrastructure, and, most importantly, the creative energy to build a vibrant hub for media, design, and digital content industries. This isn’t about replicating London, it’s about offering something different: a more inclusive, accessible, and community-rooted place for creativity to thrive.”

Skill Development

Slough is primed for supporting the next generation of talent with organisations such as Resource Productions who play an important leadership role in the town. In addition to their many roles in supporting skills development and filmmaking, they have generously and successfully brought groups together through Arts Forum and Slough Arts Collective. These grassroots initiatives have generated new networks of arts professionals, community interest groups, and freelance artists, all of whom can take advantage of the town’s proximity to the expanding British film industry and new developments in immersive technologies in the creative industries.

Got a Big Creative Idea?

The creative industries are thriving in the UK with research from Nesta pinpointing the creative economies of Slough as among the areas creating the most significant number of creative jobs, and new creative businesses.

According to the UK Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the creative industries contributed approximately £124.0 billion in GVA during 2023, representing about 5.2% of the UK's total GVA, with Slough looking to benefit from this growth.

Unlike traditional creative hubs dominated by film, publishing, or music, Slough’s edge lies in its hi-tech creative focus, spanning video games, software, and advertising technology. This blend of digital innovation and creative enterprise sets it apart, positioning the town as an emerging hotspot for next-generation creative businesses.

For entrepreneurs and innovators with bold ideas, Slough offers not only the connectivity and talent pool needed to scale but also a place where the future of the UK’s creative economy is actively taking shape.

Ideas into Action

Slough’s creative potential is now being matched by world-class facilities. The Plus X Innovation Hub, a collaborative workspace for businesses, is at The Future Works office building in the town centre. It brings together co-working, private offices, and a state-of-the-art workshop and photography studio. Members also have access to tailored business support programmes.

Developed in partnership with property investment management company Ashby Capital, the three-storey hub boasts over £300,000 worth of specialist equipment. Beyond infrastructure, its vision is to spark collaboration, with regular networking events and support clinics. For Slough’s entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creative businesses, this marks a powerful step in turning bold ideas into lasting impact.