Creative England chooses its top 50 companies

2015 was the creative economy's most successful year to date, according to a report released by Creative England recognising "the contribution the Creative Industries make to our economy" by showcasing 50 outstanding businesses.

The report, which asked a panel of judges to cherry-pick 10 of the most inspirational companies form a final 50, revealed statistics for what is one of the fastest growing industry sectors showing an increase of nearly 10% in gross value added (GVA), contributing £76.9bn to the UK economy, and a rise in jobs of 2.6%, employing 1.7m people.

Described as "leading the charge" for the creative industries, showing "just what can be achieved with a little investment and a lot of talent", the Creative England 50 research team shone a light on 50 companies, including five app developers. 

Citrus Suite is a creative design studio based in Liverpool that specialises in designing creative book apps for publishers, as well as mobile health apps for the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector that "gamify" the way patients record symptoms to update their doctors. Its clients include Penguin, Sony, HarperCollins and the BBC for its book apps, and, for health, organisations including the NHS.

Another company listed is Magnetic North, an award-winning independent digital design company based in Manchester, which last year created an interactive experience for CBBC Live, designing wearable tech wristbands allowing thousands of children to take part in an interactive quiz trail. The team also worked with the American Air Museum to design a new digital archive project, and with Manchester City Council to provide an "audio visual experience" helping people to "explore the city in a completely new way". 

Shoothill meanwhile, a software development company, was indexed for its library search system at the Library of Birmingham. As part of its work it creates "online mapping and data visualisation solutions" to turn complex statistical and geographic data into accessible products. It has also made a FloodAlerts app to track in real time flood and river-level data from the Environment Agency. 

Substantial skills shortages and a lack of recognition by financial institutions of the value of intangible assets, however, were highlighted as challenges for the industry, added to which the industry's lack of an "investment culture", which, Creative England said, was "characterised by a limited appetite for taking 'risks'". It said: "The result is that the vast majority of the UK’s creative businesses struggle to access growth finance. This means talent is undeveloped, ideas unrealised, and opportunities lost."

Caroline Norbury, c.e.o. of Creative England, said: “Creative talent and the opportunity for economic growth can be found across the country, not just in London and the South-East.

"And the impact of creative technology, ideas and innovation is not just being felt in film, television and videogames – it crosses boundaries into healthcare, education and even car insurance.

"The successes of the Creative England 50, from Newcastle to Plymouth, are proof that the creative economy is where long term prosperity lies”

The full top 50, as voted for by a panel of industry judges, is as below:

01  Abby Ajayi

02  aql

03  Arinze Kene

04  Bonafide

05  Carbon Digital

06  Citrus Suite

07  Coacher

08  Destiny Ekaragha

09  Droplet

10  EMU Films

11  Evil Twin Artworks

12  Flix Interactive

13  Flowify

14  FuturLab

15  Gaelle Denis

16  Ground Shatter

17  Guy Myhill

18  HMA Digital Marketing

19  Inflammable

20  Jack Taylor Cox

21  Jude Ower - Playmob

22  LivingLens

23  Magnetic North

24  Matt Wilkinson

25  Media Molecule

26  Mubaloo

27  Mutant Labs

28  Ninja Theory

29  Nomad Games

30  Nosebleed Interactive

31  Oceloid Interactive

32  Peter Middleton

33  Pixel Toys

34  Playground Games

35  Rachel Dargavel

36  Rachel Tunnard

37  Rook Films

38  Rormix

39  Rumpus Animation

40  Sean Buckley

41  Shoothill

42  Skylab

43 SunandMoonstudios 

44 The Bureau

45 The Floow Yorkshire and the Humber

46 The Imaginarium

47  Total Monkery

48  Viewpoint Games

49  Vorpal Games

50  Yippee! Entertainment