Season’s Greetings from Caroline Norbury, CEO of Creative UK
This time of year is always one for reflection. So many of us will be preparing to put our out of offices on and spend some much-needed time with loved ones.
Before this year is out, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the important work you do for the sector, for putting creativity at the heart of your business, and, of course, for being a Creative UK member.
2024 has been a year of change. We have a new UK Government, a commitment to a new Industrial Strategy, and the promise of a Creative Industries Sector Plan, which should lay the groundwork for the Cultural and Creative Industries’ vital contributions to UK social and economic growth.
It’s also been a busy one for our team. In the last 12 months, Creative UK has:
- Welcomed over 90 new organisations into Creative UK’s ever-growing membership, and held 46 member events across all parts of the UK
- Published Our Creative Future – a Manifesto for the creative industries. Crafted closely with our membership, the Manifesto proposed six priorities that could instigate change for both the sector and the country. We were delighted to see it covered extensively across many parts of the mainstream media, including the Financial Times
- Partnered up with 40 incredible organisations to host the Cultural and Creative Industries Pavilion at Labour Party Conference. Spanning three days, with 30 sessions and 70+ speakers and performers, the pavilion welcomed over 2,000 attendees and was the coolest place to hang out.
- Worked intensively with over 600550 small creative businesses across the UK through our business support programmes to help them with their growth ambitions
- Supported £200m of film and high-end TV production in the English regions and worked with over 130 local authorities and partners to improve the evidence basis of the economic impact of the creative sector
- This year, the Investment team saw its fantastic cohort of investees thrive despite the challenging economic environment. Among the achievements from investees were 3 acquisitions and 12 new investments into companies from across the Cultural and Creative industries. And, against a tumultuous backdrop (particularly for creative businesses), our Creative Growth Finance (CGF) investees continued to grow, with an average 6% increase in month-on-month revenues; over 100% growth in monthly profits and 3% improvement in balance sheet liquidity. All of this we put right back into the sector
Our role this year and next is to keep championing you – and to share the big topline message: creativity has enormous value to the economy, and to our lives.
Have a brilliant break when it comes. Thank you for your continued partnership, work and for inspiring me and my team every day.
With love,
Caroline