Guidelines for crafting political pledges centered around the Creative Industries, grounded in solid evidence.
The creative industries, a significant contributor to the UK economy with a Gross Value Added (GVA) of £101.5bn, have been overlooked in the House of Commons, according to recent reports. Despite the sector's economic significance, it has only been mentioned 305 times in the House of Commons since the last election, compared to the smaller, automotive industry which was mentioned 533 times.
Professor Hasan Bakhshi MBE, Director of Creative PEC and Professor of Economics of the Creative Industries, and Eliza Easton, Founder of Erskine Analysis and previously Deputy Director at the Creative PEC, have put together four evidence-led policy recommendations to support the creative industries and help address the nation's sluggish productivity.
The UK Government’s specific policy recommendations for supporting the growth of the creative industries and addressing sluggish productivity include:
- Accelerate innovation-led growth by increasing business investment from £17 billion to £31 billion by 2035 and strengthening leadership in high-potential sub-sectors such as film, TV, music, performing arts, visual arts, video games, advertising, and marketing.
- Secure growth finance to enable creative businesses to scale and invest in new technologies and capabilities.
- Build a skilled and diverse workforce by expanding access to careers in the creative sector, with particular attention on supporting freelancers and self-employed workers through a newly appointed Creative Freelance Champion to advocate for freelance sector needs and systemic barriers.
- Increase trade and exports to raise the UK’s global influence as a creative hub.
Additional targeted policy proposals emphasize:
- Supporting grassroots arts organizations and independent practitioners, especially outside major cities, by removing systemic barriers, improving access to affordable, flexible “meanwhile” spaces for creative work, and strengthening regional networks to foster collaboration.
- Embedding sustainability in creative industries growth by promoting green skills, circular design, data-driven accountability on net zero emissions, and encouraging collaboration to develop infrastructure for reusing and recycling materials like sets, costumes, and props.
- Enhancing data and evidence for policy-making by modernizing employment codes and developing data models to better map freelance employment patterns, which will help tailor future productivity and growth strategies.
These recommendations are part of the broader Creative Industries Sector Vision 2035 aiming for the UK to become the leading global destination for creativity investment, innovation, and trade, supported by government-industry partnership, structured inquiries into challenges faced by freelancers, and cross-departmental engagement for environmental and economic sustainability.
Independent research groups also provide ongoing policy analysis for the sector. A policy briefing on "Creative industries innovation in seaside resorts and country towns" is based on a PEC Discussion Paper. The creative industries employ more than 2 million people in the UK, and the television production sector is one of Britain's leading creative export sectors.
The policy brief "Transitioning to Sustainable Production across the UK Theatre Sector" outlines recommendations for sustainable theatre production, and the publication date of the briefing is 8th November 2019. It is crucial for political parties to consider the creative industries and their needs in their political manifestos to ensure the sector's continued growth and success.
- The creative industries, with a GVA of £101.5bn, have been underrepresented in the House of Commons, receiving less attention compared to smaller industries.
- Professor Hasan Bakhshi and Eliza Easton have proposed four evidence-based policy recommendations to support the creative industries and address productivity issues.
- The UK Government's policy recommendations for creative industries growth include accelerating innovation, securing growth finance, building a skilled workforce, and increasing trade and exports.
- Additional proposals focus on supporting grassroots arts, embedding sustainability in creative industries, and enhancing data and evidence for policy-making.
- The creative industries sector vision 2035 aims to make the UK a global leader in creativity investment, innovation, and trade, through partnerships, inquiries, and cross-departmental engagement.
- Independent research groups offer ongoing policy analysis for the creative industries, such as a discussion paper on innovation in seaside resorts and country towns.
- The television production sector is one of Britain's leading creative export sectors, employing more than 2 million people in the UK.
- A policy brief on sustainable theatre production, titled "Transitioning to Sustainable Production across the UK Theatre Sector", was published on 8th November 2019.
- Politicians must consider the creative industries and their needs in their political manifestos to ensure continued growth and success.
- Innovation, education, and the right policy-and-legislation can help the creative industries remain competitive on an international scale.
- The creative arts, technology, and talent clusters must work together to drive further innovation, cultural exchange, and economic growth in the UK.
