Creative industries will be a powerhouse of Lancashire’s economy in the coming years, according to a design guru.
Ben Casey, the founder of The Chase, which has an office in Preston, said the sector had been “under-valued” in the UK while emerging economies invested in their industries.
He said the talent coming out of the county’s universities was enough to push forward the industry.
His agency The Chase, which has an office on East Cliff in the city centre, has recently out top of the Creative Survey, compiled by industry journal, Design Week.
Mr Casey said: “We have to take design on board and take it seriously, otherwise other countries will.
“You can see in places like Lancashire, particularly around our universities, that design and the creative industries are becoming a core part of our economy.
“We have to foster that.”
The designer, who is also a lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, said his agency’s win in the Design Week poll was the realisation of a long-held ambition.
It scores the country’s leading agencies based on awards won over a three-year period.
Mr Casey said: “We have been there or thereabouts for a number of years now, so it is great to finally be recognised by our peers.
“Our Preston office has played a major role and worked on projects including design for the literature produced by M&S Bank and Manchester Metropolitan University.
“We have offices in Manchester and London as well, but the Preston office is a key part of what we do.”
The designer was involved in the design of Preston North End’s Deepdale stadium and is one of the founders of property company, etcurbam, based in Preston.
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