Bectu responds to ‘At risk: our creative future’ report

The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee has today published its report At risk: our creative future. 

In it, the Committee says that the UK’s creative industries should sit at the heart of the UK’s economic growth plans. But it outlines missed opportunities and a failure among senior Government figures to recognise the sector’s commercial potential, warning that Government complacency risks undermining the UK’s creative industries in the face of increased international competition and rapid technological change. 

Among other recommendations, the report calls on the Government to make the sector a key feature of its future growth plans, given the creative industries’ huge contribution to the UK economy, and recommends a cross-Government focus on skills shortages in the creative industries. 

The Government has two months to respond to the report. 

Read more about the report here.  

Responding, Bectu National Secretary Noel McClean said: 

“This report is a clear call for politicians at the highest levels across Government to take the creative sector’s economic potential more seriously.” 

“The UK’s creative industries are one of its great strengths, contributing billions to the economy and adding so much to our social and cultural fabric. But the Committee makes clear it is Government attitude and policies that are stifling further growth and improvement opportunities. 

“Bectu has been clear that long hours and unsustainable working practices across the sector are key factors driving retention problems and exacerbating the skills shortage. We have also been clear on the need to improve diversity policies and invest in the workforce to increase recruitment into the industry. 

“These problems need industry-wide input and commitment from employers, but as the report makes clear, what is currently critically lacking is political leadership. We hope this report serves as a wake-up call and we look forward to the Government’s response to this timely report.” 

Read the report summary or in full.