The Creative Trade Forum, a new partnership between government and industries to boost UK creative businesses, has been launched today in Edinburgh
The UK’s world-leading creative industries will benefit from a new partnership between government and industry leaders focused on helping them sell more ideas, talent and products overseas, government has announced today (26 August).
Minister for Reindustrialisation Blair McDougall has launched the 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 and support thousands of jobs.
Reporting to the Creative Industries Council, the Forum brings together leaders from industry and trade bodies, including from YouTube, the British Film Institute, WPP, the British Council, BBC Studios and Goalhanger, to help creative businesses scale up and showcase the best of UK creative excellence overseas.
It will provide industry-led insight to government, identify barriers to growth, champion UK creative exports, attract investment and help build stronger international commercial partnerships.
The Forum will give creative businesses direct access to industry and government expertise to help them break into new markets and turn UK talent into commercial success.
“ I’m delighted to be a founding member of the Creative Trade Forum, launched last week to bring industry leaders together with Government and strategic partners to help unlock new export and investment opportunities for the UK’s creative industries.
As a member representing the animation sector, I’m particularly excited about what this can mean for Animation UK. British animation has a strong global reputation for its creativity, talent and storytelling, and there is a huge opportunity to build on that success by opening up new international markets, partnerships and investment.
The creative industries contributed over £145 billion to the UK economy in 2024 and support thousands of highly skilled jobs. Animation is an important part of that success, with UK studios, producers and talent reaching audiences around the world.
The launch marks an important milestone in delivering the Creative Industries Sector Plan, and I look forward to continuing the work as a founding and current member of the Forum.”
Kate O’Connor, Animation UK
The announcement comes as statistics* show the UK’s creative industries added over £145 billion to the economy in 2024, supporting thousands of skilled jobs.
*Statistical sources
- Edinburgh Festivals economic impact: Layout 1
- 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
