“It has been an absolute honour to serve as Chair of Creative UK” – Belinda Budge reaches end of tenure as Chair of Creative UK
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Today, Thursday 27 March 2025, we are announcing that, in the autumn, the brilliant Belinda Budge will reach the end of her tenure as Chair of Creative UK.
Belinda has been with us since the very beginning: joining the Board of Creative England as a non-executive director in 2014 and serving as Chair from 2017-2020. Following the integration of the Creative Industries Federation with Creative England, Belinda was Vice Chair of the newly formed Creative UK, where she took over as Chair in Autumn 2022.
Throughout her tenure and her career, Belinda has been a passionate champion of creativity and has supported our mission at Creative UK with the utmost dedication.
A textile maker and Founder of StudioBudgeBudge, a working design studio, Belinda is first and foremost a creative herself. For over 30 years, she was a luminary of the book publishing industry, working for both The Women’s Press and Virago in the 1980s, and co-founding the start-up feminist publishing company, Scarlet Press. In 1992 she joined Harpercollins Publishers, where she worked with many talented authors and honed her love of storytelling. As Group Publisher and Main Board Director she provided creative, strategic, commercial and operational leadership to the worldwide business. Belinda left the publishing world to go back to art college – first at Central St Martins and later the Royal College of Art where she specialised in textiles, giving birth to her new career as a maker and textile designer.
Belinda reflected: “It has been an absolute honour to serve as Chair of Creative UK, and to see the organisation grow in relevance and stature – investing millions in creatives, supporting 600 businesses across the country and growing the membership to reflect every single creative subsector. The company’s mission – to connect and empower creatives, while supporting and investing in ideas – is something I value immensely. I will always be a champion of Caroline and the whole Creative UK team as they continue to push for positive change for the sector and the UK.”
Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive of Creative UK, added: “Belinda has been an outstanding Chair and board member of Creative UK. It’s been a huge privilege to work with her and we will miss her insight, wisdom and strategic guidance. A passionate advocate for the value of the cultural and creative industries, Belinda has always put the needs of the businesses and organisations we’re here to serve at the heart of our mission. In particular, she has been an ardent supporter of the development of our Investment Company to generate both economic and social impact. Her passion for – and vision in – this area has been a powerful guiding force.
Belinda has that rare ability of being able to balance both passion and cool oversight; ambition with sound judgement; and importantly, both substance and style. We are immensely grateful for her mentorship and guidance and know that she will continue to be an advocate for the power of creativity to make the UK happier and healthier and will continue to champion the importance of investing in creative business and people.”
Creative UK is partnering with Nurole, the leading board-level search specialist, to find a new Chair. To arrange an informal conversation or in case of any other queries, please contact samantha.colt@nurole.com. Selection calls will take place on a rolling basis, subject to application receipt.
