Letter: Creative account

The creative industries is one sector which is certainly not short of the entrepreneurial spirit that Bill Jamieson finds lacking ("Scottish Cringe is still holding back our entrepreneurs", 7 June) as between 1998 and 2007 the number of creative industries businesses in Scotland grew by 23 per cent from 6,769 to 8,350, employment 52 per cent from 38,000 to 58,000, turnover and gross value added doubled from £2.5 billion to £5bn, and £1.2bn to £2.4bn respectively.

Could this be in part due to the blending of creative and business skills which universities, such as my own, have imparted to our graduates?

Universities Scotland's recent report found that "universities are the primary source of talent for the creative economy" and that "employability and entrepreneurship are growing areas of focus for higher education".

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Hardly the anti-business toxin that Bill Jamieson perceives.

(Prof) Robin MacPherson FRSA

Institute for Creative Industries and Screen Academy Scotland

Edinburgh Napier University

Colinton Road

Edinburgh