Escape Studios highlights challenges facing the creative industries

Escape Studios, one of the UK’s leading schools for animation, games and VFX reveals new research on the public perception of careers in the creative industries. Despite being one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors, many Brits still don’t consider creative roles ‘real jobs’, contributing to a lack of awareness and interest in the field. 

The results show that 60% of Brits don’t consider creative careers a ‘real job’, highlighting a critical perception gap (Censuswide, 2024). A concerning finding, given the sector’s enormous contribution to the UK economy which generated £126 billion in gross value and employed 2.4 million people in 2022. Recent data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency indicates that 85% of full-time undergraduate students from Escape Studios who graduated in 2022/2023 are employed, with 82% of those holding highly skilled graduate-level positions*. 

Part of the problem is the lack of knowledge about the educational pathways that lead to success in these industries. A significant 61% of Brits are unaware of institutions like Escape Studios that specialise in creative industry education (Censuswide, 2024). Escape Studios is actively working to change this by providing courses designed and delivered with industry experts. Since its foundation in 2002, Escape Studios had built a community of over 4,000 alumni who you will find working at many of the world’s top VFX and games studios. Escape Studios’ Film and Screen Saturday Club which is part of The National Saturday Club invites young people (13-16-year-olds) to explore the exciting world of video games and visual effects. The initiative aims to develop young people's creative abilities and inspire them to become the next generation of innovators and creative thinkers. It also fosters connections between educators and industry professionals, ensuring that young people are well-informed about the various options available for further education and fulfilling careers. 

The perception of the creative industries as inaccessible and reliant on insider connections is also a major barrier. The research found that over half (52%) of students believe that the only way to secure a job in industries such as gaming or film is through knowing someone in the business (Censuswide, 2024). This misconception adds to the feeling that careers in the creative sector are reserved for a select few, rather than being open to all those with talent and dedication. Industry partners are the backbone of Escape Studios. They shape the courses, teach, and provide valuable feedback to students. Escape Studios is a proud partner of Access VFX, a global initiative dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion within the visual effects and animation industries. The partnership reinforces Escape Studios’ commitment to building an inclusive community, ensuring everyone from all backgrounds have the opportunity to thrive in the creative industries.  

Escape Studios has been at the forefront of creative education for more than 20 years, working closely with industry partners to ensure graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the industry. The goal is to shift perceptions and make the creative industries more inclusive and accessible.  

As the creative industries economy continues to grow, Escape Studios is calling for greater awareness and advocacy across the educational system to ensure young people understand the potential of careers in fields like animation, games and visual effects.  

The research was conducted by Censuswide with 2008 nationally representative consumers between 12.08.2024 - 14.08.2024. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles and are members of The British Polling Council. 

*Graduate Outcomes 2022/23 survey results published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). HESA open data is published under the (CC BY 4.0) licence.