UK Government Delivers £380M Boost for Creative Industries, Regional Growth

The UK government has announced a £380 million investment package as part of the Creative Industries Sector Plan to boost innovation, access to finance, research and development, skills, and regional growth across the creative industries including film, music, video games, and arts. This investment aims to nearly double business investment in the sector to £31 billion by 2035 and create thousands of new jobs, including 2,000 new film and TV apprenticeships. Significant portions of the funding are allocated to research cutting-edge technologies (£25 million), the film industry (£75 million), start-up video game companies (£30 million), music industry support including grassroots venues (£30 million), and regional creative businesses (£150 million distributed among six regions). The plan is part of the wider UK Industrial Strategy, a 10-year, multibillion-pound initiative to make the UK the best place globally for creative industries investment and innovation. While the investment has been widely welcomed by industry groups, the government recently rejected a planning application for a major new film studio near Holyport over green belt concerns, highlighting ongoing tensions in balancing growth and environmental protections. Government officials emphasize the strategic importance of the creative sector as a global cultural and economic driver.