Animation UK warmly welcomes the Government’s launch of the Creative Industries Sector Plan as a powerful recognition of the UK’s world-leading screen industries and a vital step towards long-term growth, innovation, and opportunity across our creative economy.
The new plan, part of the UK’s Industrial Strategy, sets out significant measures to boost the creative sector, many of which will have a direct and positive impact on animation. As one of the most dynamic and geographically diverse sectors in the creative industries, UK animation stands to benefit from:
- £75 million Screen Growth Fund: A dedicated investment to develop and showcase UK film and TV content, with animation recognised as a central and distinctive contributor, combining high-quality storytelling, exportable IP, and world-class visual innovation that underpins the UK’s global screen reputation.
- Mayoral Strategic Authority Funds: The £150 million devolved funding for Mayoral Authorities offers an important opportunity to build regional animation hubs and support tailored investment readiness. With 63% of animation companies located outside London and the South East, this investment is vital to grow and sustain the UK’s vibrant animation ecosystem.
- UK Global Screen Fund Expansion: The enhanced funding for the UK Global Screen Fund further strengthens international market access, co-production, and distribution of British screen content including animation. This supports our mission to grow global reach for UK studios and celebrate our storytelling on the world stage.
- Support for Research & Development: The government’s commitment to creative R&D, via UKRI, a new wave of creative clusters, and revised R&D tax guidance reflects the constant innovation inherent in animation. From pioneering virtual production and immersive storytelling to pushing boundaries in visual effects and AI, animation is a natural leader in the ‘createch’ revolution.
- Skills and Talent Investment: With initiatives such as the Creative Careers Programme, creative skills bootcamps, and a new National Centre for Arts and Music Education, the plan reinforces the importance of nurturing the next generation of animators and supporting talent in XR, immersive technologies, and audio-visual production.
- British Business Bank support: Increased access to finance, including new debt and equity funding and support for IP-backed lending, will enable more animation companies, especially SMEs and start-ups to scale and thrive in a globally competitive market.
The launch of the Creative Industries Sector Plan is a strong signal that government understands the value and potential of the UK’s animation sector. This is a strategic and long-overdue commitment to supporting the most innovative and geographically diverse part of the screen sector.
We are especially pleased to see the inclusion of many of the priorities we set out in the Animation UK Manifesto 2025, including the development of animation hubs, enhanced R&D investment, and a clear recognition of the need to unlock access to finance and build a future-facing skills pipeline.
The UK animation sector is ready to deliver, creating jobs, high-value IP, and internationally celebrated content. This plan gives us a platform to grow, and we look forward to working with industry and government to turn it into action..
Kate O’Connor, Executive Chair of Animation UK
The full Creative Industries Sector Plan can be downloaded here.
