🎨 The £60M Creative Industries Cash injection: Are We Addressing the Real Issues?
About two months ago, the UK Government announced £60 million to “turbo-boost” the Creative Industries. This was followed by the House of Commons hosting a general debate on the Creative Industries.
Of course, the announcement is exciting and I shared my thoughts on a LinkedIn Post, but as the year moves on I wanted to share a larger blog asking some critical questions about the current state of the Creative Industries in the UK—and whether we’re addressing the root issues or simply scratching the surface.
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A Young Industry with Ancient Roots
What strikes me most is that the Creative Industries, despite their rich history, only received official industry status in 2019. Yes, art is as old as humanity itself, yet as an industry, it’s still in its infancy. For context, while the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) was established in 1997, Creative UK wasn’t truly solidified until 2017–2019.
This means that, despite contributing a staggering £108 billion to the UK economy and accounting for 7.1% of jobs, the Creative Industries haven’t historically received the recognition or investment they deserve.
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The Challenge of Complexity
Unlike Real Estate (build house, sell house) or Manufacturing (make stuff, sell stuff), the Creative Industries are beautifully complex. Each sector operates in its own unique way—Musical Theatre is worlds apart from Gaming, and Fashion is a completely different beast compared to Architecture. To complicate things further, Software and IT are also considered part of the Creative Industries.
This diversity is both a strength and a challenge. It fuels innovation but also makes it difficult to create a one-size-fits-all approach to funding and support.
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What Makes a Functioning Creative Industry?
Having supported creative entrepreneurs for nearly 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to build a thriving creative ecosystem. Based on my experience and research, here’s what I believe the Creative Industries need most:
- True Recognition: Moving beyond lip service to real acknowledgment of the sector’s value.
- Understanding of the Creative Process: From training to distribution, we need to grasp the full journey.
- Devolved Funding: Ensuring funding isn’t monopolized by big players but reaches grassroots innovators.
- Space for Innovation: Allowing room for experimentation, failure, and the generation of groundbreaking ideas.
- Streamlined Business Models: Providing clear paths to sustainability for creatives.
- Strong Education-Industry Links: Building a pipeline of future talent through meaningful collaboration.
- Diverse Funding Streams: Expanding beyond traditional sources to unlock new opportunities.
- Real IP Protection: Safeguarding the intellectual property that fuels creativity.
- Business Training: Offering proper incubation and acceleration to equip creatives with the tools they need to thrive.
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The Real Question
How do we fundamentally restructure support for an industry that turns imagination into economic growth?
The £60 million is a step in the right direction, but it’s just a drop in the ocean. What we need is a long-term vision that addresses the systemic challenges of the Creative Industries and ensures their sustainability and growth.
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Join the Conversation
What do you think should be the focus of these debates and how the funding is shared out? Is it time to rethink how we support creativity in the UK? Let’s spark a discussion that leads to meaningful change.
