UK’s creative industry ‘can lead post-Brexit growth’

John Whittingdale

The UK’s creative businesses can lead economic growth in a post-Brexit UK, according to the government and industry group the Creative Industries Council.

It said the prospects for the country’s creative industries remain strong after the recent Brexit vote to leave the European Union. It has outlined an ambitious plan to grow the country’s exports from the TV and wider creative sectors to £31 billion (€37 billion).

The plan comes less than a fortnight after the UK voted to leave the European Union, sparking widespread concern in the UK TV business about coproduction, exports and kids production.

UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport John Whittingdale said: “The Creative Industries are one of the UK’s greatest success stories.

“That success is built upon the extraordinary talent which exists in this country, an amazing cultural heritage, the English language and a tax system designed to support and encourage growth in the creative sector.

“None of this is changed by the UK’s decision to leave the EU and I am confident that our creative industries will continue to thrive and take advantage of the new opportunities which are opening up to do business across the world.”

The Creative Industries Council’s five-year plan to grow sector-wide revenues to the £31 billion mark, from the £19.8 billion recorded in 2014. The plan was formulated with industry players including indie producers’ association Pact, and the UK government.

The CIC says the creative industries deliver over £85 billion to the UK econmomy and jobs across the sector total almost two million.

The Council’s Create Together plan specifies eight areas in which industry and government can work together to grow the sector. These include digital infrastructure, international expansion, intellectual property and regulation.

It goes on to specifically call for more support for first-time exporters and a better framework for intellectual property management.

Sajid Javid MP, UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills, said: “I have been clear that Britain is open for business and we need to make the result of the EU referendum work. I am sure the creative industries, with all their talent and entrepreneurial skill, will look to take advantage of these opportunities and this strategy refresh will help deliver growth across the sector going forward.”