Creative industries to get £380m boost ahead of industrial strategy launch

The investment, announced by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, will see £380 million spent on a range of projects intended to double private investment in the creative industries.
Ms Nandy said the investment would 'boost regional growth, stimulate private investment, and create thousands more high-quality jobs'.
The figure includes £25 million for research into cutting-edge technologies such as the virtual avatars used in Abba Voyage, and £75 million to support the film industry.
It will also see £30 million put towards backing start-up video games companies – an industry worth billions of pounds to the UK – and another £30 million for the music industry, including an increase in funding for grassroots venues.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the investment would create thousands of jobs in Britain's creative industries. (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Another £150 million will be split between the mayors of Manchester, Liverpool, the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, the North East and the West of England to support creative businesses in their regions.
The announcement comes as the Government prepares to publish its industrial strategy next week, billed as a 10-year, multibillion-pound plan to back certain sectors and secure growth for the UK economy.
The creative industries are set to be one of the winners, with a plan for the sector expected to be published alongside the wider industrial strategy.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'The UK's creative industries are world-leading and have a huge cultural impact globally, which is why we're championing them at home and abroad as a key growth sector in our modern industrial strategy.'
But earlier this month, the Government also rejected a planning application for a major new film studio near Holyport, in Berkshire, over its impact on the green belt.
The £380 million has been welcomed by the industry, with the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (Bectu) saying it was a 'show of commitment to the sector'.
But Bectu chief Philippa Childs said creative workers would also be looking for 'sustained support' from the Government as the sector 'recovers from a series of external shocks'.
Recent years have seen the sector rocked by Covid, the cost-of-living crisis and concerns about the impact of AI and Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on films made outside the US.
Conservative shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew accused Labour of threatening the 'very survival' of the creative industries.
He said: 'From their national insurance jobs tax to their business rates hike, Labour are pushing creative businesses to the brink, and we now know that Rachel Reeves has a secret plan to raise taxes – meaning things will only get worse.
'Labour must recognise that their economic mismanagement is dealing a devasting blow to the sector.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

STV News

2 hours ago

• STV News

Jobs may be lost at private school after fee VAT decision

Jobs at a prestigious Edinburgh private school may be lost as it looks to cut costs. Fettes College said the introduction of VAT on school fees was one of the reasons it took the 'difficult' decision to 'right size our staffing model'. The Scotsman reported that the school – which counts former prime minister Tony Blair among its alumni – has opened a consultation process for both teaching and operational staff in order to reduce headcount. The most recent accounts show 751 students in August 2024, down from 780 the previous year. Fees for boarders at Fettes College can cost up to £18,000 for the current academic year, inclusive of VAT. The Labour government imposed VAT on private school education and boarding fees, effective from January 1. Ministers argue that removing the VAT exemption will benefit the wider education sector, including the 94% of pupils who attend state schools. A spokesman for Fettes College said the sector is facing a 'tough time' and appealed for privacy for the staff involved. The spokesman said: 'Various factors have conspired to increase costs on all organisations and schools are not immune, particularly with the recent imposition of VAT on school fees and rise in national insurance contributions. 'Despite being financially very well managed with a strong student roll, these factors are having an impact on our costs and numbers, and we are obliged to run our operations as efficiently as possible. 'These headwinds obviously affect our families too and our parents need to be certain that we are taking the necessary decisions to run the school efficiently and to use their money effectively. 'A consultation process began in May to right size our staffing model. This difficult decision may result in some redundancies. 'We will continue to provide the highest standard of educational experience, delivering our innovative vision for the school and maintaining our position as a leader in the sector.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

Wales Online

2 hours ago

• Wales Online

The incredible deli hidden in Cardiff city centre with holiday in the Med vibes

The incredible deli hidden in Cardiff city centre with holiday in the Med vibes If you want to embrace the joy of southern Italian food, long lunches and a friendly atmosphere then look no further Gloria Serena Arcerito, originally from Sicily is the owner of Khione (Image: Bethany Gavaghan ) If you've not tried out Khione Sicilian Delicatessen in Duke Street Arcade in Cardiff, you're definitely missing a trick. Italy is my ultimate favourite destination to travel to, partly because of their different attitudes to food and they have the cutest little shops which are way more fun to browse in and pick up your daily essentials than the standard UK supermarket. But as I found out recently, you don't actually have to travel to Italy to soak up the glory of Italian food culture. ‌ Khione first started out running at the market in Pontcanna before opening up in Canton and they have now been operating in the city centre for over six months. Owned by Gloria Serena Arcerito, who is originally from Sicily, she started working on the business and idea during lockdown with the intention of bringing the experience of traditional Sicilian cuisine to Cardiff. ‌ All of the products at Khione are all carefully selected and shipped directly from Sicily itself. They're also produced by small businesses and farmers who believe in upholding the traditional family recipes many generations of Sicilians have grown up with. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here Gloria Serena Arcerito, who moved from Sicily seven years ago and has built up a thriving Italian business in the centre of Cardiff (Image: Bethany Gavaghan ) Gloria moved to the UK seven years ago, and lived with a family in Wales where she learned to speak English. Article continues below 'It was hard at the beginning', she explained. 'I decided to do a full immersion so the family was a Welsh-English family. 'So the lady, Jenny, who's my friend and who owned the house, wanted to learn Italian so we taught each other. We created a community and they helped me start the business because they gave me space which I could use for storage. 'During Covid I also used to work at the City Arms - just because I still wanted to learn and be a part of it all.' ‌ Before meeting Gloria and speaking to her properly I tried out the food the night before to get a sense of how the business flows of a typical day and I fell in love with the atmosphere, décor - as well as the amazing flavours straight away. Olives, bread, lemonade and a pizza slice from Khione (Image: Bethany Gavaghan ) I arrived just before they were set to close at 6pm and as it was a hot summer's afternoon and went for olives and bread which was totally perfect, and a great, light evening snack. ‌ Inside, the vibe is warm and welcoming, and the space invites you to experience a slice of Italian culture in a mix of ways. Downstairs is where the shop sits, where you can stock up on proper Italian food. The décor and layout definitely makes you feel like you've been transported to a Sicilian village rather than the arcades of Cardiff, and when you're browsing through the different products and ingredients - I'd say you feel much more inspired to get creative in the kitchen than picking up food from a chain store, so it acts as a simple reminder of how nice it is to support small businesses. You can look out onto the arcades from some of the seats (Image: Bethany Gavaghan ) ‌ But if you thought that Khione was just a shop then think again. You can also order from their wide-ranging menu and be served food upstairs, where they have one of the loveliest, homiest dining spaces I've come across in the city - or you can dine on the seating located outside the deli. The olives were zesty, with loads of flavour and it was genuinely the best bread I'd eaten since stopping at a deli I haven't stopped thinking about in Ventimaglia, in Italy itself. My partner got a small slice of pizza which was in his words 'a delectable choice for a quick bite and actually very filling', and we both opted for bottles of lemonade which were lovely, and tasted gorgeously organic. Also on the menu is a selection of Italian favourites including Pinsa Romana, Tiramisu', Honey and pecorino cheese, full size pizzas and much much more. ‌ Upstairs in Khione Considering how food is central to her identity and culture, and what it means to her to bring something she is so passionate about to Cardiff, Gloria said: 'My Dad had a company producing preserves, so my dad and the rest of my family are very into food. 'I used to help my mum when she was cooking and making desserts and I would help make cakes or tiramisu. So I just learned by watching. ‌ 'It's nice to cook for the family, and eat together as a family. For example at lunch time we'd always try and wait for each other, of course that's not always possible. There are some gorgeous corners inside the deli which create plenty of room for warmth and connection if you're eating there with friends or family (Image: Bethany Gavaghan ) 'Nowadays it's not always easy if you work all day but if you have a break in the day to get everyone together and talk about what's going on it's a way to release stress and reset for the other half of the day. ‌ 'There is maybe a bit less of that in life day to day. Even in the north of Italy, people work all day, finish earlier but there is no break. 'In the south, people are still taking a little break, one hour or two is a way to reset.' But could these values be picked up by people in Cardiff? Gloria has also found that because of the way the business runs in Cardiff, it might already be encouraging people to slow down a little. She explained: 'Some people who are coming in do seem to be staying a little longer than just for a quick lunch. ‌ One of Gloria's goals for the business is to provide a range of authentic Italian food to people in Cardiff and build more connection with what they are eating (Image: Bethany Gavaghan ) 'We do serve pizza and paninis to take away. Maybe the fact it is a shop it's slightly confusing, and not just somewhere you go to eat. People are surprised that you can come in and especially go upstairs, where there are completely different vibes. 'The idea is if you want to come here and have a nice lunch, or take home and prepare a dinner if you have a special event, or even daily with the tomato sauce - someone else took care of the food for you, so you can have a nice meal, quicker.' Article continues below

Telegraph

3 hours ago

• Telegraph

EU rules that push up car insurance to be scrapped in Brexit bonus

EU rules that force law-abiding British motorists to stump up for compensation claims made by uninsured drivers will be scrapped by ministers. Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, will use Brexit powers to rip up the Brussels regulations and return to a 'common-sense' approach. The UK was forced to apply the law by Eurocrats, despite ministers branding it 'morally questionable' and warning it rewarded criminal behaviour. Car insurance firms pay into a pot, known as the fund of last resort, which pays out to drivers who have been hit by an uninsured or unidentified driver. The cash pot means that, where costs cannot be reclaimed from the driver at fault, victims of crashes are still compensated for damage to their vehicle. Originally, the fund was not open to claims from uninsured drivers, but in 2017, ministers were warned that their exclusion was illegal under EU rules. As a result, the Government said it 'had no choice' but to change the law or run the risk of facing limitless daily fines from the EU Commission. Since then, uninsured drivers who are either hit by another uninsured motorist or involved in a hit-and-run have been eligible for compensation. The money for the fund of last resort is raised by a levy on insurance firms, which pass the cost onto their customers in higher premiums. A Government source told The Telegraph: 'We are reintroducing the exclusion of property damage compensation for uninsured drivers. 'Uninsured drivers should not be able to benefit in the same way as those driving lawfully. 'The Transport Secretary will restore this common-sense agreement because this Labour government is tackling criminal behaviour and backing all road users to the hilt.' Plans to repeal the EU law were drawn up by the last Tory government, which launched a consultation just before Rishi Sunak called the general election. At the time, Guy Opperman, the then roads minister, said the EU rule was 'morally questionable at best, and a cost carried by all legal motorists'. 'When we were members of the European Union, we were obliged to allow this. Now we have left, we can determine our own course of action,' he said. It has now been picked up by Labour, which will introduce the change. The feedback showed there was 'overwhelming support' for changing the rules to demonstrate that 'uninsured driving is unacceptable'. 'The vast majority of law-abiding motorists pay for claims from uninsured drivers for property damage through their motor insurance premiums,' the Government said. 'Removing this right for uninsured drivers demonstrates that the government is focused on tackling criminal behaviour and sensitive to regulations that impact negatively on the general public. 'It will send a message that uninsured drivers should not benefit from being compensated by the fund of last resort for property damage.' The Motor Insurers' Bureau, which oversees the fund of last resort, said it had been 'working closely' with ministers to reintroduce the exclusion. 'This will ensure uninsured drivers aren't able to claim compensation for property damage following collisions involving other uninsured or hit-and-run drivers,' it said. 'Uninsured drivers are not just breaking the law, but they make roads more dangerous and increase the cost of motor insurance for the honest majority.' The change can be introduced quickly because it does not require new legislation. Instead, the requirement to compensate uninsured drivers can be removed by amending agreements between Ms Alexander and the MIB.