Morning, Wednesday, 30th April 2025
Online
This conference will assess policy priorities for unlocking growth and investment in UK creative industries.
With the sector having been identified as a key growth-driving area in the Government’s forthcoming Invest 2035: UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, it will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities for the Creative Industries Taskforce in the development of the Creative Industries Sector Plan. The agenda includes a focus on what the creative industries sector needs from the plan, including strategies for addressing challenges in attracting investment, scaling creative businesses, and developing a skilled workforce - with the plan expected to be published alongside the upcoming Spending Review in June.
Investment
With over £300m of targeted funding support announced by the Government in 2025, we expect discussion on priorities for cultural regeneration and transformation projects in achieving growth, supporting local communities, and maintaining financial resilience. Next steps for driving further public and private investment in the sector will also be discussed, as well as the way forward for attracting inward investment, and strategies for remaining internationally competitive.
It will also be an opportunity to assess next steps for tackling barriers to growth, including strategies for a joined-up approach to scaling SMEs and start-ups, support needed for navigating the funding landscape, and next steps for breaking into international markets.
Regional growth
Delegates will also assess the way forward for fostering regional development and accelerating creative growth across the UK, with an independent review of Arts Council England currently examining equitability of funding, regional disparities, and access to the arts. Priorities for the relaunch of the Creative Industries Clusters Programme will also be discussed, as well as the way forward for remaining competitive in creative R&D, and opportunities for creating new geographic and sectoral partnerships.
Skills
Priorities for addressing skills shortages in the creative industries will be considered. Delegates will assess strategies for strengthening relationships with the education sector and priorities for the expansion of the Creative Careers Programme. They will consider digital and financial upskilling of the workforce, with Creative PEC highlighting the challenges for creative businesses in adapting to technological change and innovation.
Creative subsectors
Further sessions will focus on the needs of creative subsectors, including options for the expansion of sector-specific tax relief, and opportunities for regulation in stimulating innovation and private investment. Strategies for protecting freelancers and the wider workforce in creative industries will also be discussed, with members of the House of Lords calling for a freelancer commissioner in February 2025.
CreaTech
Delegates will also examine how creative businesses, including SMEs, could be better supported to take advantage of emerging technology, looking at issues around AI, copyright, and creative IP, and opportunities for innovation and technology to support productivity in the context of the AI Opportunities Action Plan. Priorities for creative rights holders will be discussed, including the way forward for striking a balance between AI and copyright, with the Government considering responses around transparency, AI model training, and creator remuneration.
We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with: Annie Gascoyne, Chief Economist, BBC; and Bernard Hay, Head of Policy, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from MHCLG; DBT; DSIT; DfC, NI; Ofcom; Skills England; and The Scottish Government.
