I thought it would be useful to take a closer look at what the UK government is planning for the creative industries, based on the House of Lords Library’s recent report: “Creative Industries: Growth, Jobs and Productivity”, published on January 30, 2025.
It’s only by understanding what the government sees as the sector’s strengths and challenges — and what solutions they propose — that we can properly question, suggest, and critique their approach. That’s my view. Criticism should always come with a constructive offer.
This is really the heart of the report as written
To enable growth in the sector, the government will leverage UK creative industries’ global comparative advantages by unlocking private investment, boosting exports, and developing its highly skilled workforce. The government needs to ensure that the UK sector remains globally competitive as a home for world class talent while maximising access to important markets to tour and collaborate. The sector plays an important role in driving growth across regions and nations, through creative clusters and corridors across the country that spread opportunity and prosperity in communities, as well as driving growth by enhancing access to skills, spillovers and knowledge sharing.[33]
The industrial strategy and the sector plans, including the sector plan for the creative industries, are due to be published alongside the spending review in spring 2025.[34] The government has commissioned various bodies to work on delivering the industrial strategy and the sector plan:
Industrial Strategy Advisory Council: The council will make and publish recommendations on the development and implementation of the industrial strategy.[35] Its initial focus will be to support development of the industrial strategy, including developing proposals to break down barriers to growth. The government appointed members to the council in December 2024. The government plans to put the council on a statutory basis.[36]
Creative Industries Taskforce: Sir Peter Bazalgette, the industry chair of the Creative Industries Council, and Baroness Vadera, who is due to replace him in that role later this year, have been appointed to lead a taskforce to work on the sector plan.[37] The taskforce will focus on areas such as crowding in investment, access to opportunity, people and skills, and supporting innovation.[38]
Government chief scientific adviser and the national technology adviser: These senior advisers have been tasked to lead a review on “barriers to the adoption of transformative technologies that could enhance innovation and productivity, with a focus on the growth-driving sectors identified by the industrial strategy green paper”.[39] The review’s recommendations are intended to inform the development of the industrial strategy and sector plans.
For me, this is hot air.
Next is a summary (generated with AI and checked against the full report), followed by my own perspective on what’s missing — and what we need next.
🔍 Summary of the Government’s Position
The House of Lords report offers a sweeping overview of the creative sector’s value to the UK:
- Economic Powerhouse: In 2023, creative industries added £124 billion in GVA — 5.2% of the UK total. The IT, software, and computer services sector led the way with £49.1 billion.
- Employment Driver: The sector employed around 2.4 million people — 7% of all UK jobs. Notably, 28% were self-employed — double the national average.
- London-Centric: The capital accounted for 29% of all creative jobs.
The government has named the creative sector as one of eight “growth-driving” industries in its new industrial strategy, with plans for:
- Sector-specific investment and skills support
- Export boosting
- Harnessing “creative clusters” across the UK to share opportunity and prosperity
As the report states:
“To enable growth in the sector, the government will leverage UK creative industries’ global comparative advantages by unlocking private investment, boosting exports, and developing its highly skilled workforce… The sector plays an important role in driving growth across regions and nations, through creative clusters and corridors across the country that spread opportunity and prosperity in communities, as well as driving growth by enhancing access to skills, spillovers and knowledge sharing.”
The sector plan is due alongside the Spring 2025 Spending Review.
© And What of A.I.
Alex Mahon, the Chief Executive of Channel 4, has expressed significant concerns regarding artificial intelligence (AI) companies’ use of copyrighted content from the UK’s creative industries. She highlighted that AI firms are “scraping the value” from the UK’s £125 billion creative sector without proper authorization or compensation, which she believes poses a “dangerous position” for the industry.
Mahon emphasized that UK copyright law is explicit, yet large language models (LLMs) are utilizing creative content without consent or remuneration. She outlined a clear stance:
- Opt-in only: Use of content must be explicitly authorized by the rights holders.
- Transparency: LLMs must disclose the data they have utilized.
- Fair payment: Creators should receive appropriate compensation for their work.
She advocates for a licensing regime that safeguards intellectual property, ensures transparency, and places the responsibility on tech firms rather than creators.
These remarks were made during her testimony to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, where she urged the government to take action to protect the creative industries from unlicensed AI data usage
👥 Who’s Involved?
The government has set up the following bodies and roles:
- Industrial Strategy Advisory Council: Advises on breaking down growth barriers.
- Creative Industries Taskforce: Led by Sir Peter Bazalgette (soon to be succeeded by Baroness Vadera), focusing on investment, opportunity, and innovation.
- Scientific & Technology Advisers: Reviewing barriers to adoption of transformative tech across growth sectors.
💷 What About the Money?
Some funding has been announced, notably:
- £15bn in creative tax reliefs over five years
- An Independent Film Tax Credit (up to 53%) for films under £15m
- New VFX relief launching in April 2025
- Theatre, orchestra, and museum reliefs locked in at 40–45%
- £3m for the Creative Careers Programme to promote the industry in schools
- £25m for Sunderland’s Crown Works Studio via NEMCA, aiming to create 8,000 jobs
🧾 My Take: This Doesn’t Touch the Sides
Yes, it’s always good to see any funding come into the sector — and yes, tax reliefs are critical.
But let’s be honest: this is lightweight support for an industry delivering £124 billion in value.
This isn’t an industry in need of occasional attention — it’s a major employer, exporter, and cultural force. And yet:
- The slowdown in commissioning is unacknowledged.
- The collapse in advertising revenue? Ignored.
- The “less for more” production economy? Not mentioned.
- The loss of skilled talent from the industry? Crickets.
This report reads like it was written from the safety of a desk, not from inside a production office, edit suite, or freelance spreadsheet.
🎭 Freelancers Still Left Behind
With 28% of the workforce self-employed, freelancers are the backbone of the creative sector. Yet they remain largely invisible in government policy. No mention of late payments, no safety net during dry spells, no fix to the broken IR35 mess, and no one addressing the erosion of benefits like holiday pay and job security.
We need more than support — we need representation.
🚨 It’s Time for a Minister for the Creative Arts
Let me be clear: I respect Lisa Nandy and her junior ministers for covering both Sport and Culture. But these are two completely different remits — each with deep, complex issues. One covers community participation, fitness, and national pride. The other spans film, theatre, television, digital media, and the livelihoods of millions.
We need a dedicated Minister for the Creative Arts, backed by a cabinet seat, a specialist team, and direct engagement with the realities on the ground.
Because right now? This doesn’t feel like policy with the industry.
It feels like policy at the industry.
Let’s start a serious conversation.
Not just about funding, but about respect, protection, and strategic vision.
Because the UK creative sector isn’t a pet project — it’s a global powerhouse in need of smart, real-world support.
#creativeindustries #freelancers #publicpolicy #tvindustry #film #artsfunding #culturematters #ministerforcreatives #ukpolitics
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