Member Article

Government must support creative industries say CBI

The CBI has offered its support to the UK’s creative industries, and is now calling on the Government to champion British talent on a global stage.

In a speech this evening, the CBI’s chief policy director Katja Hall will focus on the contribution businesses from the world of film, music, gaming, advertising, publishing, football and the media can make to the UK export industry.

She will say: “The UK’s creative businesses are absolute world-beaters. A British artist has topped the global bestseller list in four of the last five years thanks to Adele, Coldplay, Susan Boyle and Amy Winehouse. Downtown Abbey is a global tour-de-force, and we’re second only to the US in international content sales.

“But there is still more to do and we want the Government to help us to increase the export strength of this fantastic sector.”

The Jubilee year and the Olympics will provide the UK with an excellent opportunity showcase the creative industries to the rest of the world, but Ms Hall believes that firms still need help to target fast-growing economies in South-East Asia and Latin America.

Alongside strong trade links, Ms Hall also believes that the Government should ensure that the UK has a robust intellectual property framework in place.

“Creative businesses will be reluctant to export if they think their IP will be stolen. The Government needs to take a stronger lead on the international stage in calling for enforcement measures,” she will say.

“We also need to recognise the potential that a modern, internationally-focused regulatory framework holds for today’s creative companies. The BBC’s iPlayer is an excellent example of a digital platform already successfully exporting creative content around the world.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .