The city of Glasgow is reaffirming its now-decades-old status as a creative capital with new initiatives. The Commonwealth Games are slated for 2014 and a visit from the world championships of rhythmic gymnastics is on the books. But Glasgow is also a burgeoning digital and creative hub.

At a London event last night, Creative Clyde, a public-sector programme that seeks to promote Glasgow as a destination for new businesses, particularly in the arts and communications sector, discussed the creative and communications sector in Scotland’s largest city. About 4% of the city’s workforce is employed in the creative industries, and that number is constantly growing.

Communications agencies make up a large portion of the sector, particularly in digital and app development. The former engineering base of the city has transitioned to a software and design focus to cater to a changing communications landscape.

Gordon Beattie, chairman of Beattie Communications, a top PR and communications agency in Scotland, says, “In its strictest sense Creative Clyde is a creative business hub on the waterfront of the River Clyde. In reality, Glasgow is much more than that. It’s a pioneering city where our people operate at the cutting edge of innovation. The city is alight with creativity. Our own company, for instance, is building a worldwide reputation for the innovative use of Linkedin for sales lead generation and business development.”

Long ago, Glasgow was named the first EU Capital of Culture in the UK, its status in the industry has been burgeoning since then. Liverpool, similarly, has seen a city-wide urban renaissance take place since its culture year in 2008. But while Liverpool’s has been arts-focused and is generally still in an infrastructure-development phase, Glasgow has progressed to woo the creative industries to a regenerated riverfront.

Gordon Matheson, leader of the Glasgow City Council, says, “Glasgow has a strong history of creativity and innovation, not least in the way that the city has been transformed and re-invented over successive generations, to meet the challenges and the opportunities on offer.”