Jessica O'ConnorThe government has announced new members of the Creative Industries Council (CIC) as part of plans to reshape the body to better support growth, employment and skills across the UK’s creative sectors.
Established in 2011, the CIC brings together senior figures from government, creative businesses and trade bodies to provide a coordinated voice on issues affecting the sector.
The refreshed council is intended to more accurately reflect the modern creative economy, with representation from film and TV, music, design and other subsectors, as well as stronger regional and national coverage.
The council’s work over the next year will be guided by the Creative Industries Sector Plan, with a focus on innovation, finance, skills and trade. Ministers say these priorities are central to supporting creative businesses to grow, attract investment and create jobs across the country.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “The Creative Industries Council is vital to ensuring that we are effectively understanding and addressing the needs of the sector. Our ambition is that every corner of this country will flourish, cementing the UK’s position as a creative superpower.
“We are committed to delivering the Creative Industries Sector Plan, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change, and the remodelled CIC will continue to play a critical role in that.”
Co-chair Peter Bazalgette said the renewed council would help deliver the government’s industrial strategy and strengthen growth across creative industries, while co-chair Shriti Vadera said the refreshed body would support policy development and underline the sector’s economic importance.
Under the sector plan, the government aims to increase business investment in creative organisations from £17bn to £31bn by 2035, supporting business expansion and job creation.
The creative industries are already among the UK’s strongest export sectors, and ministers say the updated council structure will help address workforce challenges while boosting international trade.
Alongside the CIC changes, the Department for Business and Trade has appointed new co-chairs to the Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board, tasked with strengthening global trade links and attracting inward investment to support employment and growth in the sector.
