Calls for tax breaks for creative industries

The Creative Industries’ Federation (CIF) is calling for enterprise zones, tax breaks and access to finance for the creative industries, saying they are becoming increasingly important to the UK’s future economic success.

The role of the creative industries, which includes theatre, film-making, music, advertising and video games, was recognised when the Government unveiled its industrial strategy Green paper in January.

According to the CIF, the creative industries should be at the heart of this strategy, as it supports 2.9 million jobs and its contribution to post-Brexit Britain is being overlooked.

As a spokesman for the organisation pointed out, there has been a tendency to dismiss the creative industries as “something lightweight”, even though the Government has been happy to claim the glory of billions of pounds in trade that comes from hits such as War Horse and Sherlock.

He added that the Government should therefore recognise that the creative industries will be as important to the UK’s future economic success as traditional industries like cars or oil and gas.

Business Secretary Greg Clark agreed that the creative industries make an important contribution to UK plc and said he is committed to a deal with the sector. He added that the independent review being carried out by TV producer Sir Peter Bazalgette will look at how the sector can help drive prosperity.

It will consider the importance of developing new technologies, capitalising on intellectual property rights and encouraging creativity from people of all ages and backgrounds.

Mr Clark said that the creative industries contributed almost £90bn to the economy in 2015 and he wants to ensure that the sector’s strengths are built on in the post-Brexit era.