Designers in Bristol and Bath have 3-5% higher cash income

An interesting little snippet came my way from the University of Bath Spa alumni news:

Designers based in the Bath and Bristol area have a 3-5% higher cash income on average and higher levels of productivity than similar businesses in England and Wales. The report, called Bristol and Bath by Design, showed that small design firms are 3% more productive than average, and 14% more productive than small non-design companies. The report was carried out by researchers from Bath Spa University, UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol.

If you go to the report itself you’ll find it covers

Engineering, aerospace, product and package design
Multidisciplinary design studios
Applied designer-maker studios
Content: animation, motion graphics, television/film and publishing
Fashion and textiles
Architecture, heritage and landscape design

Of course from a personal point of view, I’m interested in science fiction publishing. We have a thriving science fiction and fantasy community with an annual Bristolcon now going into its 9th year (and long may it continue). (There are whispers that it might expand its programme next year… but we’ll have to wait and see.)

So who are Bristol and Bath science fiction authors. Well, here’s a few:

Colin Harvey, who alas left us all too soon in 2011 – he gained an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University

Gareth Powell who won the BSFA best novel award in 2013 for Ack-Ack Macaque jointly with Anne Leckie for Ancillary Justice.

Joanne Hall writes more towards the fantasy end of speculative fiction.

And of course, Emma Geen – another who gained an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University and recently published her first novel – The Many Selves of Katherine North

Below is a picture of Corsham Court, where MA Creative Writing courses are held. Certainly a place for inspiration.