If Chancellor Rachel Reeves is serious about economic growth, she should use the autumn budget to boost the UK's creative industries, according to leading audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg.
Partner Mandy Girder said the creative industries – from film and music to digital media and design – remain one of the UK's most dynamic growth engines, contributing almost £124 billion to the economy in 2023, according to government figures.
“The UK's creative industries are a vital part of the economy,” Girder said. “But to achieve Labour’s growth agenda, more targeted support for freelancers in the media industry is needed.”
Freelancers are the backbone of the UK's creative workforce – yet many struggle with irregular income, delayed payments and limited access to financial support between contracts.
Girder said an emergency aid fund for freelancers “in between jobs or waiting for late payments” would provide immediate relief and help retain skilled professionals in the field.
But he said structural change was just as important as short-term support.
“Preventing these cash flow issues in the first place will go a long way,” he said. “The government should create creative industry-specific prompt payment rules to ensure freelancers are paid within reasonable time frames – similar to the protections already in place for government suppliers.”
Girder called for the reintroduction of tax reliefs for freelancers, as were provided during the pandemic, to help independent creatives offset work-related costs such as software, equipment and studio space.
“This will help small but established freelancers manage expenses and remain productive,” he said. “This should be combined with increased or more permanent creative industries reliefs.”
He also proposed start-up grants for graduates and emerging professionals to help bridge the gap between university and employment.
“Some young people spend years honing their skills, but find it incredibly difficult to find a paying job,” Girder said. “Start-up grants can give them a lifeline to start their careers and contribute to the economy.”
Girder said that while regional support schemes have proven effective in the West Midlands, North East and Wales, similar funds should be expanded across the UK to create a “national safety net” for creative freelancers.
He also urged the Treasury to increase the budget for the Global Screen Fund, which helps promote UK film and television exports overseas.
“More regional and national funding streams will unlock creative potential outside London and ensure the UK remains globally competitive,” he said.
Freelancers say slow and inconsistent payments are one of the biggest challenges facing the industry.
Neil Kerber, an award-winning cartoonist, described how late payments disrupt livelihoods and morale: “It would be very helpful if a freelancer like me could be paid early, or at least on time, rather than waiting for weeks to find out that my invoice still needs to be authorized – then forgotten about for the next eight weeks,” he said.
“I once waited up to five months for an important invoice to be paid. The expedited payment rules will encourage businesses to handle invoices efficiently and give creatives much-needed backup when chasing overdue payments.”
The UK creative sector is a vital export, a cultural powerhouse and a proven driver of growth. But as Labor looks to deliver on its promise of economic expansion, Girder said protecting the sector's freelancers – who make up a significant part of the workforce – must be part of the plan.
“This is an industry that delivers jobs, innovation and global impact,” he said. “But to maintain that success, the people who power it – freelancers and small creative businesses – need stability, fair wages and solid government support.”
Amy Ingham
Amy is a newly qualified journalist specializing in business journalism with responsibility for news content at Business Matters, the UK's largest print and online source of current business news.
