A Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ Leicester (Âéw¶¹´«Ã½) professor has helped create one of the UK's first professional registration frameworks designed specifically for technical professionals working in creative industries and technologies.
After more than two years of development, the new with applications open now.
It will provide a nationally recognised pathway for career progression and professional recognition for technical specialists working in areas including games, broadcasting, immersive technologies, museums, design, architecture and creative production.
Professor Tracy Harwood, director of the Institute of Creative Technologies at Âéw¶¹´«Ã½ Leicester (Âéw¶¹´«Ã½) and chair of the Institute of Science and Technology's (IST) Creative Steering Group, has played a leading role in developing the framework alongside industry partners and Creative UK.
The framework introduces three levels of professional registration, creating a structured route from early-career technical roles through to advanced professional practice and leadership positions.
Professor Harwood said: " Creative technologies are rapidly becoming one of the UK’s most important future career sectors, bringing together innovation, digital capability and creative practice in ways that are transforming industry, education and society.
Government-backed initiatives such as the Creative Industries Sector Plan, the Create Growth Programme and Innovate UK’s investment in creative industries clusters all recognise the sector’s strategic importance to the UK economy.
“The launch of a professional registration framework through the Institute of Science & Technology and Creative UK is therefore a significant milestone, helping to formally recognise the expertise of creative professionals and technical practitioners, while strengthening career pathways, professional standards and the future growth of the UK’s creative economy."
Work began in 2024, when Professor Harwood helped instigate discussions around the need for a dedicated professional register for creative industries technical professionals.
Developed by the IST and endorsed by Creative UK, the framework is believed to be one of the first accreditation schemes in the UK specifically designed to support the long-term professional development of technical professionals working across the creative industries and technologies sector
It covers people working in a broad range of disciplines including film and television production, games development, digital technologies, museums and heritage, architecture, design, performing arts and emerging technologies such as virtual production and extended reality (XR).
As creative technologies continue to play an increasingly important role in the UK's economy, the framework aims to help employers identify capability, support workforce development and provide individuals with independent recognition of their professional achievements.
Simon Hooper, Head of Membership, Creative UK said: “The Creative Industries are rich with highly skilled professionals, working across
a range of specialities. We’re pleased to see accreditation being made available for individuals, in acknowledgment of the amount of talent that powers our amazing sector.”
Terry Croft MBE, FIScT, Chair & CEO of the IST, said: “We believe this framework will help strengthen professional identity, support workforce development and recognise the vital contribution technical professionals make to the UK's creative economy.”
Posted on Friday 19 June 2026