DIGITAL and creative companies are bucking the recessionary trend, according to Business Link Northwest.

One fifth of the region’s digital and creative businesses reside in Lancashire, making the sector an important part of the region’s economy.

And digital chiefs believe the support provided by Business Link is vital in these tough times.

The advice comes as part of the Lancashire Telegraph We’re Backing Business campaign which aims to give firms the support they need in the recession.

More than a third of digital and creative businesses are below average risk with less than one in 10 at maximum risk in East Lancashire according to the organisation.

There are more than 3,400 creative businesses in the county accounting for four per cent of companies, with 1139 residing in East Lancashire.

Michael Holroyd, a digital and creative broker at Business Link, said: "In the main, the digital and creative sector is performing well.

“Businesses in this sector tend to be fairly small which means they can adapt more quickly to changing market conditions.

“Many of these companies are actually providing services or products that are helping businesses through the recession, delivering increased efficiency or promotion of the company in a cost effective way.”

Managing director of Blackburn-based creative design agency every1 (CORR), Simon Clayton, is responsible for 22 staff and contracts with the likes of British Airways, Warner Bros, the NHS and Channel 4.

He said: “We’re by no means a large company but we’ve managed to secure major contracts and some really interesting work because we’re specialists in our field.

“We offer a complete design service from beginning to end and pride ourselves on being able to successfully market most products.

“We started out in Chorley and moved to Blackburn six years ago.

“We opened our London office in 2006 and this was when things really started to take off for us.

“I find our Business Link broker is very professional with sound business knowledge.

“He understands our business and wants to help us make the most out of our opportunities.”