Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has accredited three new Creative Enterprise Zones in the capital.
Westminster, Brent and Islington are the latest areas to be given Creative Enterprise Zones status, bringing the total number to 12.
Across these zones, £1.2m will be allocated to nine projects seeking to make workspaces more sustainable, which is expected to benefit more than 500 businesses in the creative industries.
The Creative Enterprise Zone scheme launched in 2018 and was designed to help communities, artists and businesses enter the creative sector by providing more permanent workspaces, creative skills training, and support for start-ups.
According to the Mayor’s Office, the 12 zones will deliver 71,000 sqm of affordable creative workspace, support 800 businesses, deliver 500 jobs and support 5,000 young Londoners to get jobs in creative industries by 2026.
Khan said the zones have been “a game changer for culture in London”.
“I’m proud that our investment has helped these areas to protect local artists and enable them to bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic faster and stronger than the wider industry,” he added.
“It is vital that we continue to invest in our creative future, providing opportunities for young and emerging talent to thrive as we continue to build a better and fairer London for everyone.”