New Culture Secretary must work with Bectu to champion the creative industries

Michelle Donelan has been confirmed as the new Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, replacing Nadine Dorries MP.

Bectu has written to the new Secretary of State, outlining the number of challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the UK remains a cultural powerhouse that punches above its weight, and seeking her commitment to help the creative industries thrive and to support the sector through the cost-of-living crisis. Read the letter here.

Commenting on the appointment, Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said:

“The UK’s cultural sector is the envy of the world and the skillset of our talented workforce is recognised on an international scale. We hope the new Culture Secretary will use her role to celebrate and enhance the contribution of our successful creative industries, and work with Bectu to provide encouragement, support and stability to the workforce.

“Creative workers are the lifeblood of the UK’s hugely successful cultural sector, yet they continue to suffer from unpredictable and insecure work following the perfect storm of Brexit restrictions, the Covid-19 pandemic and now an escalating cost of living crisis.

“Instead of undermining much-loved cultural institutions like the BBC and Channel 4, we will be looking to the new Culture Secretary to work with us to champion the self-employed and freelance workforce in government, through fighting for a better paid workforce and fairer working conditions.  We urgently need strong leadership and sustained support to protect creative jobs and safeguard the arts for all.”