LONDON, Aug. 26 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
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UK creative businesses from film, TV, music,artsand moreset tobenefitfrom new partnership to help them sell more ideas,talentand products overseas.
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Newpartnership launched at Edinburgh International Festival brings togethergovernment andleaders from advertising, gaming and AI to architectureand design.
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£10m newfundingfrom Innovate UK announced to help UK creative technology businesses across the country scale up, helping delivergood growth in every postcode.
The UK's world-leading creative industries willbenefitfrom a new partnership between government and industryleadersfocused on helping them sell more ideas,talentand products overseas, government has announced today (26 August).
Minister for Reindustrialisation Blair McDougallwilltodaylaunchthe new Creative Trade Forum- alongside Co-chairs Francesca Hegyi (Edinburgh International Festival) and Michael Frohlich (WPP)-during a visit to the Edinburgh Festivals,which generate around £800 million for Scotland's economy andsupport thousands of jobs.
Reporting to the Creative Industries Council, theForum brings togetherleaders fromindustryand trade bodies,including fromYouTube, the British Film Institute,WPP,the British Council,BBC StudiosandGoalhanger,to help creativebusinesses scale up andshowcasethe best of UK creative excellenceoverseas.
Itwillprovideindustry-led insight to government,identifybarriers to growth, champion UK creative exports, attract investment and help build stronger international commercial partnerships.
The Forum willgive creative businesses direct access to industry and governmentexpertiseto help them break into new markets and turn UK talent into commercial success.
The announcementtodaycomes asstatistics showthe UK'screative industriesaddedover £145 billion to the economyin 2024,supporting thousands of skilled jobs.
Minister for Reindustrialisation Blair McDougall said:
TheEdinburghFestivalsshowcase thebest ofthe UK's world-renowned creative businesses,which is whyit's herethat we're launching the Creative Trade Forum,bringingtogetherindustryexperts and leaders to driveinvestment andopportunityfor British firms innew global markets.
Through our ModernIndustrial Strategy,we're doubling down on one of Britain'sfastest-growing sectors andbiggest success storiestoboostgood growth and jobs in every corner of thecountry, andcement our world-leading creative reputation.
Francesa Hegyi, Co-Chair of Creative Trade Forum and CEO, Edinburgh International Festival said:
The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, launched in June 2025, is a clear blueprint for economic growth, and creative industries are a key part of that.
I'mreally pleased that the groundworkwe'velaid over the past couple of years is now translating into tangible action through the Creative Trade Forum. This will unlock genuine export and investment opportunities for creative businesses right across the UK.
Michael Frohlich, Co-Chair of Creative Trade Forum and Chief Marketing Officer, WPPsaid:
Britain does not have a creativity challenge. It has a scale challenge. We already produce world-class ideas,talentand intellectual property. The opportunity now is to help more UK creative businesses turn that advantage into export growth,investmentand commercial success in every major market around the world.
Today's creative industries sit at the intersection of creativity,technologyand commerce, spanning everything from advertising, design and architecture to film, television,gamingand next-generation AI-powered businesses.
The countries that win over the next decade will be those that treat creativity not just as cultural capital, but as economic infrastructure. The Creative Trade Forum is about helping more British creative businesses compete, grow and win on the global stage.
Ian Murray, Minister of State for DCMS said:
This new, industry-led forum marks a step change in how the Government and the creative sector will work together to unlock global opportunities for our creative businesses.
Our Creative Industries Sector Plan set out a clear ambition: to break down market access barriers and use trade agreements to grow trade and investment. The Creative Trade Forum will be central to delivering that, and I look forward to working closely with it to build on the world-leading strength of our creative industries.
During his visit to Edinburgh,Minister McDougallwillmeetwithmembers of the Creative Trade ForumandEdinburgh Fringe Festival Society'sChief ExecutiveTony Lankester andtake partin a 'Closer to Europe' roundtable with industry leadersaimed at unlocking new opportunities for UK creative firms on the continent.
In addition tothe launch of the Forum, theGovernment is alsodoublingdownonsupport forbusinesses scaling up next-generation creative technologies onto the global market.
Innovate UK's Next Wave is the UK'sleadinggrowth programme for creative technology businesses, helping ambitious microbusinesses and SMEs turn breakthrough ideas-likenext-generation gaming platforms and AI tools for film production-intoscalable products and services,and connect them to new overseas markets.
Following a highly successful£10 millionpilot of thisprogramme,which attracted around 700 applicants from creative technologybusinesses, Innovate UKwilllaunch further funding opportunities in2027tobackthe UK's four frontier creative industries: film and TV, video games, music, performing and visual arts, and advertising and marketing.
Deputy Director Creative Industries, Innovate UK, Dr Joanna Choukeir said:
The UK is home to extraordinary R&D infrastructure, creative talent and technological ideas. Next Wave is about backing the people pushing the edges of creativity and technology.
By connecting ambitiouscreatechSMEs with funding,expertise,marketsand investment,we'rehelping make the UK the #1 place for the next generation of UK creative businesses to start, scale, stay and contribute to societal impact.
By supporting businesses at the forefront of creativity and technology, the programme will help attract private investment, strengthenexportsand support the Government's ambition to double business investment in the creative industries- helping to deliver good growth in every postcode.
Background:
* The new Forum delivers on a key commitment of the Creative Industries Sector Plan, as part of the UK Government's Modern Industrial Strategy.
Membersof the Creative Trade Forum:
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Francesca Hegyi OBE - Chief Executive of the Edinburgh International Festival
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Michael Frohlich - Chief Marketing Officer & Corporate Affairs Officer, WPP
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Alison Lomax - Managing Director, YouTube UK and Ireland
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Paul Alger - Director of International Business, UK Fashion & Textile Association
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Tracy Brabin - Mayor of West Yorkshire
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Tom Christopherson -Chairman, British Art Market Association
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Deborah Dawton - Chief Executive, Design Business Association
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Elizabeth Diaferia - Associate Director, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)
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Claire Walker/Hannah Essex - Co-Chief Executive, Society of London Theatre (SOLT)
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Giorgio Fazio - Research Director, Creative IndustriesPolicyand Evidence Centre (Creative PEC)
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Cliff Fluet - Head of Media & Entertainment & Board Member, Lewis Silkin/ Music Tech UK
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Tom Fiddian - Head of AI and Data Economy Programmes, Innovate UK
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Tom Fussell - Chief Executive Officer, BBC Studios
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David Leigh-Pemberton - Director of Corporate and International Affairs, British Fashion Council
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Ross Lewis - Director of International & Projects, PACT
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Nema Hart - Director SW + Inclusive Innovation, Arts Council England (shared ACE representation)
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Scott McDonald - Chief Executive, British Council
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Nick McDowell - Director of International, Arts Council England (shared ACE representation)
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Natalie Melton - Executive Director, Crafts Council
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Agnieszka Moody - Head of International Relations, British Film Institute (BFI)
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Iain Munro - Chief Executive, Creative Scotland
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Kate O'Connor - Chair of Animation UK
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Nick Poole OBE - Chief Executive, UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE)
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Chloe Straw - Director of Operations,Goalhanger
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Kate Taylor Tett - Director of the GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign
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Dr Jo Twist OBE - Chief Executive Officer, British Phonographic Industry (BPI)
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Valerie Vaughan-Dick - Chief Executive, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
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Stephen Woodford - Chief Executive Officer, Advertising Association
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Adrian Wooton OBE - Chief Executive, Film London
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Department for Digital, Culture,Mediaand Sport
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UK Export Finance
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Office for Investment
For more detail on Innovate UK's Next Wave programme, click here: Next Wave: Breakthrough Wave 1 - Innovate UK Business Connect
Statistical sources
* Edinburgh Festivals economic impact: Layout 1 (https://www.edinburghfestivalcity.com/assets/000/000/937/Edinburgh_Festivals_Impact_Study_-_June_2026_original.pdf?1782491819)
* Creative industries economic contribution: DCMS Economic Estimates GVA 2024 (provisional) - GOV.UK
* Creative industries exports: DCMS Sectors Economic Estimates: Trade, 2022 and 2023 - GOV.UK
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
