The Culture, Media and Sport Strategy and Policy Network (SPN) has a remit to consider relevant strategy and policy initiatives in relation to the Creative and Digital Industries, Sport and 2012. This includes facilitating collective dialogue on emerging strategic issues, consulting with member institutions and convening task and finish groups where necessary for further engagement. One of the key challenges for this SPN concerns the footprint and associated definitions of sub-sectors. As a starting point the SPN acknowledges the DCMS definition of the creative industries:
'The creative industries are those industries that are based on individual creativity, skill and talent. They are also those that have the potential to create wealth and jobs through developing intellectual property'.
The Creative Industries include:
In addition it is important to note this SPN’s remit in respect of digital industries. This is limited to digital content creation within the wider context of creative and cultural industries and therefore doesn’t necessarily consider digital infrastructure, ICT and networks.
This SPN also provides the means for engagement across the regional HE sector, and between the HE sector and wider stakeholders in the sport and 2012 arenas including Cultural Olympiad. The group aims keep abreast of developing strategy in these broad fields, in particular any opportunities and threats are identified. The group provide a forum, both electronically and through agreed meetings as appropriate, to share intelligence and inform debate in relevant areas. The individual institutional contacts take responsibility for sourcing institutional responses as requested by NWUA and for disseminating relevant information to appropriate colleagues across their institution and the wider network.