Victory for Bectu campaign as Government commits to appointing freelance champion
The Government has today published the ‘Creative Industries Sector Plan’ as part of its new Industrial Strategy
The ‘Creative Industries Sector Plan’ sets out a plan to grow the sector significantly over the next ten years.
Among the interventions announced are a commitment for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to appoint a ‘freelance champion’.
Bectu has been campaigning for such an appointment to act as a voice for freelancers at the heart of Government, so we wholeheartedly welcome this announcement.
Alongside appointing an “advocate for the sector’s creative freelancers in Government”, the plan also sets out a commitment to support the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) and tackle bullying and harassment in the creative industries, a new skills passport and a commitment to support self employed workers through the Make Work Pay agenda.
Key announcements include:
- £75 million Screen Growth Package over three years to develop independent screen content
- Devolved regional funding of £150 million through the creative places growth fund
- Commitment to supporting and working with CIISA
- Maintaining existing tax credits
- £30 million Games Growth package over 3 years
- £30 million music growth package with £20 million for live trust to be generated through ticket sales on stadium gigs
- Government will support industry to develop skills passports and begin implementation in 2026
- Delivering a refreshed £9 million creative careers service
Commenting on the publication of the plan, Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said:
“I am delighted that government has listened to Bectu and finally established a champion for freelancers within government.
“Freelancers are the backbone of the creative industries and have borne the brunt of both recent economic shocks and poor employment practices in the sector.
“It is clear that the government needs to improve its understanding of and support for these vital workers and the many challenges they face, Bectu has been fighting hard to secure a better deal for creative freelancers and this is a crucial step forwards in that campaign.
“It is also welcome that the government has taken a number of other steps to back creative workers including a strengthened commitment to tackling bullying and harassment in the industry, a new skills passport, and confirming the intention to support self-employed workers through the Make Work Pay agenda.”