The project-based nature of TV and Film production in particular has driven a flexible resourcing model where companies tend to retain a small core team of full time employees and draft in additional resources to fulfil project commitments (or subcontract specialist expertise for specific tasks). Consequently, there is a relatively high percentage of self-employed workers and freelancers that rely on networks and contacts to secure work. Collaborative working, outsourcing and networking are therefore critically important.

Price competition is driving trends toward outsourcing to low wage economies. This is particularly established in the fashion design sector and, more recently, becoming routine for programming and artwork in computer games.

A significant cadre of creative workers will measure success by values other than economic. These individuals or organisations can provide a valuable input into collaborative partnerships where the eventual outcome will be translated into economic benefit to be exploited by others. For many in the Creative Industries personal passion, pride, commitment and peer recognition are significant valuable characteristics, in the same way that academics may be primarily looking for reputational value (through opportunities for publishing research papers).