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Category: Culture

  • Stephanie Peacock – 2024 Speech at the Football Supporters’ Association AGM

    Stephanie Peacock – 2024 Speech at the Football Supporters’ Association AGM

    The speech made by Stephanie Peacock, the Minister for Sport, on 20 July 2024.

    I’m delighted to be here today to speak to members of the FSA, the Football Supporters’ Association, as Minister for Sport, at the home of English football – Wembley Stadium.

    It’s a privilege to join you at this AGM which is of course Malcolm Clarke’s last as chair, after a mere 22 years. I know the huge impact he has had, and I wish you well.

    You are all meeting here today to discuss how fans can be given a greater voice and ensure your concerns are addressed by the game.

    Fans are the heart and soul of the game and I want to set out how this government will support you.

    The inclusion of the Football Governance Bill in the King’s Speech on Wednesday is the first step in delivering that support – by introducing a new regulator for football in law.

    The FSA is one of our key partners, ensuring that the voice of fans is represented as we develop these proposals. I want to continue to work with you to deliver this commitment which will ensure a more sustainable future for our football clubs and to ensure fans’ voices are heard. Having worked with you closely over the last few months, I know firsthand the impact you have had.

    Every football fan deserves the opportunity to follow the team that they love without having to fight back against unsuitable owners; battle to keep their club’s name, colours and badge; see their club try to join a closed league of select clubs syphoned off from the rest of the English football pyramid; or even risk their club disappearing altogether.

    Our football fans are the best in the world – which is why we are committed to repaying that dedication – by making this country the best place in the world to be a football fan.

    We’ll do this by giving fans a greater say in the way their club is run and ensure the financial sustainability of football clubs, protecting them for generations to come.

    This will include ensuring that clubs regularly consult a representative group of fans on strategic matters and other issues of interest to supporters. This means that a wide range of fans, regardless of background, will have the opportunity to have their voices heard.

    Too often we’ve seen how the financial mismanagement of beloved clubs like Bury has a devastating impact on loyal fans and local communities. Indeed, the Secretary of State’s first visit was to Gigg Lane. Irresponsible owners, unsustainable financial models and inadequate regulation have cast a shadow over too many of our community clubs.

    Their experiences highlight the frailties of current football governance systems in place to help protect clubs. Governance systems that have led to excessive and reckless risk-taking, something that the new regulatory regime will address.

    But while we work to address those issues, I also want to recognise the fantastic global success story that is English football. It is one of our greatest cultural exports, attracting more viewers and higher revenues than any of its international rivals.

    That’s why we need to ensure that the Regulator’s approach is proportionate, risk-based and targeted, while keeping fans at its heart. I’m confident that providing this stable regulatory environment will attract investors that will improve the experience for you, the fans. This is a view which is also shared by a number of clubs across the footballing pyramid.

    I know that the risks clubs face are real and current. So we will act as quickly as the parliamentary timetable will allow to get the Regulator in place.

    I want to finish by thanking the FSA for inviting me to speak at this year’s AGM.

    And to take the opportunity to congratulate Kevin Miles on the award of an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List in recognition for his services to football.

    This honour acknowledges the dedication which Kevin has given over so many years to ensuring that the interests of football fans are championed and that local communities have a staunch ally in protecting their local football clubs.

    These local clubs are an essential part of the social fabric of Britain.

    They are vital community assets that bring together people from all backgrounds, which is why we need to protect and nourish them in the interests of fans and the local communities they serve.

    I look forward to our continued working partnership as we move forward to reform football for the better.

  • Julia Lopez – 2024 Speech to the Digital Television Group Summit

    Julia Lopez – 2024 Speech to the Digital Television Group Summit

    The speech made by Julia Lopez, the Media Minister, at King’s Place in London on 9 May 2024.

    Thank you very much, Damian and thank you, Richard. It’s really great to be with you this morning, and I think it’s a testament to the reputation of the DTG that so much of the industry is represented here today, particularly on a rail strike day.

    Last time I was here I was heavily pregnant and now I’m just extremely tired.

    I know there’s a lot of excitement here in this room for the future of television and some anxiety too, and I suspect we’ll be hearing a lot during the summit about how new technology like IPTV and generative AI will support that.

    I think you’re right to be excited. If leveraged properly and responsibly, new technology offers us the opportunity to take our creativity to the next level – to make things that used to be difficult and frustrating so easy, and the impossible possible.

    The UK has the chance to be at the forefront of this technological revolution.

    With our world-class digital infrastructure…

    …top notch engineers, like you and data scientists…

    …and a set of creative industries impatient to innovate.

    In her speech to the Royal Television Society last year, the Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer promised to give you the support you need as a sector to navigate this changing world. Not just to survive the current wave of innovation, but to drive the next one.

    One advantage of being a joint Minister in both the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is that I get chance to be involved in and drive that support.

    So today I want to say a bit more about three of the remaining challenges you’ve told us about; how we as a Government are supporting you in meeting those challenges; and what we’re doing to make sure that audiences are at the heart of our plans for the future of television.

    The first challenge is one of uncertainty. Not just the usual worries about which programmes will do well, but a more fundamental challenge about the where, what and why of TV.

    The numbers speak for themselves. In the five years from 2017, the reach of broadcast TV fell from 91% to 79%, while the number of households subscribing to a video-on-demand service more than doubled.

    And I’ve seen that change in my years as the Media Minister going through the pandemic and seeing the challenges coming out of that.

    Of course such disruption isn’t new to this sector. The very existence of the DTG speaks to that, founded to help the industry navigate the arrival of DTT on the scene some thirty years ago.

    But it comes at a time of significant financial pressures, particularly for those reliant on TV advertising.

    In an industry experiencing near constant change, the important thing is that the sector is able to respond to that.

    Too often innovative products and services are held back by self appointed gatekeepers. And I understand the commercial imperatives that many of you are governed by.

    But the Government will continue to encourage long term thinking that recognises that, when it comes to innovation in TV, this doesn’t have to be a zero sum game.

    Because the sector benefits most when audiences are able to choose the product that works best for them – to vote with their remotes.

    I know this challenge is felt particularly acutely by our broadcasters.

    You are being asked to serve an ever wide variety in the ways we watch TV. At home, on the go; on the small screen and the big. High end drama and lean back daytime. We as viewers want it all.

    So we are pressing ahead with the pro-competitive interventions in both our Digital Markets and Media Bills.

    And we will continue to champion, in particular, the vital role that our public service broadcasters play in bringing high quality public service content to our screens.

    That’s updating our communications laws for the first time in two decades.

    The second challenge is one of outdated and inconsistent regulation.

    The message I hear from many of you is that you want a regulatory regime that is both fair but also consistent. One that encourages innovation – but gives audiences the confidence to adopt these new technologies.

    To the majority of viewers, TV is TV – and they would expect it to always have the same regulation and protections. But we all know, it doesn’t.

    Take, for example, Gordon Ramsey, a man known principally for two things: first being an award winning chef, and second, swearing a lot.

    When his show Hell’s Kitchen airs on ITV2, it has to comply with the broadcasting code, and it’s no great shock that ITV chooses to air new episodes after the watershed.

    But when ITV puts that previous episodes of the same show on their on-demand service, it doesn’t have to comply with that Code – and you can’t complain to Ofcom if you see something inappropriate.

    Thankfully ITV have nevertheless voluntarily put robust audience protection measures in place.

    From a compliance perspective, this is already starting to sound complicated. And that’s before we add in internet delivered television, like the Hell’s Kitchen FAST channel, which can be found on some smart TV’s electronic programme guides and broadcasts episodes “round the clock”.

    I am not sure everyone in this room, let alone most viewers could say with certainty whether that has to comply with the Broadcasting Code or not.

    It doesn’t, by the way – but the Homes under the Hammer FAST channel does.

    Updating our regulatory regime to embrace the new ways that content is being delivered is necessarily a long term project.

    But I’m pleased to say that we’re addressing two of the most pressing issues: the creation of a new Video-on-demand Code, through the Media Bill, that mainstream VoD services must comply with, and consulting on updating the boundaries of linear regulation by designating additional electronic programme guides.

    Together, these changes will give audiences more confidence in adopting new services, and give broadcasters the fair and level playing field they need to ensure that it is the best content that wins out.

    So you’ve got good products and robust regulation, but third and finally we need to decide – collectively – on the mechanics.

    How will audiences get their TV in the future? And that’s the question I want to turn to now.

    It seems clear from everything I’ve heard from the sector over the last year that IPTV is going to be a big part of the way we get our television in the future.

    At the heart of that future is a potentially amazing proposition for audiences:

    Many more programmes, broadcast in ultra high definition…

    …more features, better accessibility, greater personalisation…

    …and almost limitless choice, both live and on-demand.

    Is it any wonder that next year an estimated 99% of TVs sold will be internet enabled?

    As Minister for Digital Infrastructure, I’ve been doing everything I can to ensure that both our fixed and mobile networks are ready for those extra demands that this change will make on them.

    I am particularly pleased by the progress made over recent years to roll out gigabit-capable broadband and 5G mobile connectivity across the UK.

    Driving the deployment of fixed and wireless broadband is the  centrepiece of the government’s work.

    The pace of change is enormous. Working in partnership with industry and Ofcom, our policies have helped us collectively increase coverage of gigabit broadband to 82% – that’s up from just 6% in 2018.

    Of course, the opportunity presented by this investment hasn’t gone unnoticed. Both Sky and Virgin have launched subscription-based IP propositions – and they are joined by services like LG Channels, Samsung TV Plus, and – most recently – Freely.

    Free to view television, however delivered, is a really important part of our television landscape.

    We in Government want to encourage the sector to keep embracing innovation and technological development, but we’re not going to pull the rug from under the devoted audiences of Freeview channels.

    That’s why we’ve committed to the future of DTT until 2034.

    I know many of you will be interested in what happens at that point. And you’re looking to us to provide the answer.

    As the Culture Secretary has said: we will. But it’s not a decision we can or should take in isolation. We have to look at the evidence……not just what is happening now – but to look ahead to ten years’ time…

    …not just a simple dichotomy between DTT and IPTV – but the potential to enable audiences to choose between multiple competing platforms, just as they can now…

    …and not just what the government can do, but what industry can do as well.

    I am very grateful to Ofcom for their early work in this space, and we will be considering the conclusions of their call for evidence carefully.

    In parallel we have been working to identify and fill the emerging evidence gaps, by commissioning independent research on this topic.

    This is going to be published shortly, demonstrating that many of us are already using internet-based services on our TVs – whether we realise it or not…

    … that by 2040, 99% of homes will have an IP enabled TV…

    …and that, on current trends, the number of homes without access to IPTV will fall to one and a half million by 2035 – but this still represents 7% of homes.

    And as Richard said, we have to make sure that those audiences are not left behind.

    Now we in government want to help you take advantage of these changes.

    But we also have a responsibility to audiences – to ensure they continue to have access to reliable, free to view television in a format that’s familiar to them.

    And the further and faster the transformation, the stronger this responsibility becomes.

    So it’s clear we need to do more to understand what drives viewers’ decisions, and how we can help everyone to take advantage of these new technologies.

    Giving them not just the tools they need, but a compelling reason to make the leap. And supporting them if they don’t want to.

    This is something that industry, government and audiences will need to work together on – to ensure we collectively provide the best answer for your businesses and for the public.

    So I can announce today the launch of an audience engagement programme to ensure that audiences are at the heart of our plans.

    We will use this to engage audiences directly, understand their needs and preferences and make sure these are reflected as we develop policy.

    I want to hear from the sector too.

    So we’re going to be creating a new dedicated stakeholder forum, to support this project and ensure industry and audiences come together to deliver on the ambitions I’ve been discussing today.

    We hope this will ensure we hear voices from across this industry. We’ll be setting out more detail on both of these in due course.

    Because new ways of consuming TV should not come at the expense of those who still enjoy terrestrial television.

    I am proud of what we’ve already achieved as a Government.

    Connecting more than 80% of homes to gigabit broadband…

    …expanding our world-leading creative industry tax reliefs…

    …and hopefully, passing a Media Bill – soon, I hope, to be a Media Act – that will protect the mixed ecology that has worked well for the best part of a century…

    Setting the platform for an exciting future – with more to come.

    It’s a busy agenda and one I am looking forward to working with the DTG and its members on.

    I hope you enjoy the rest of the summit today

    Thank you very much.

  • Lucy Frazer – 2024 Statement on Neutral Athletes from Russia and Belarus in International Sport

    Lucy Frazer – 2024 Statement on Neutral Athletes from Russia and Belarus in International Sport

    The statement made by Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on 19 April 2024.

    Putin’s devastating war against Ukraine is barbaric and evil, and the UK Government continues to stand firmly with our Ukrainian allies.

    In the course of the war, Russia has killed scores of Ukrainian athletes and destroyed Ukraine’s sporting infrastructure.

    The Minister for Sport and I are personally committed to supporting Ukraine in the face of Putin’s illegal invasion. That is why we took action and led a coalition of 36 countries to protect the integrity of international sport and ensure that athletes representing Russia and Belarus are unable to compete.

    It is for the independent international sports bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and FIFA, to set the rules for participation in their events. But our position is clear. Putin’s regime does not deserve to see its athletes line up on the starting blocks of races or stand on podiums during medal ceremonies as representatives of their countries.

    This has never been about punishing individual Russian or Belarusian athletes.

    What we stand against is athletes competing representing the states of Russia and Belarus.

    We continue to vigorously oppose Russian and Belarusian state participation. Our policy has never been a complete and total ban on neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus participating at all. Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been able to compete in the UK as neutral athletes since the invasion. For example, our guidance allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete at tennis competitions under strict neutrality conditions.

    Instead, our efforts – and the efforts of our international coalition – have been focused on urging the IOC and IPC to change their approach, apply the strictest neutrality conditions possible and ensure they are implemented rigorously.

    After two years of concerted lobbying, they have done that. And the result is that the number of athletes from Russia and Belarus expected to participate in the Olympics is in the tens, not hundreds.

    As a result, we have written to the IOC and IPC noting that their final neutrality rules for Paris achieve the widely accepted baseline of ensuring that Russia and Belarus are not represented as states in international sport. Our focus now turns to ensuring these rules are stringently enforced and maintained as long as the war goes on.

  • Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at SportAccord

    Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at SportAccord

    The speech made by Stuart Andrew, the Sports Minister, in Birmingham on 8 April 2024.

    Good afternoon. I would first like to start by thanking the President of SportAccord, Ugur Erdener, for hosting.

    It doesn’t feel like it is already two years since this wonderful city, alongside the wider West Midlands region, hosted the record-breaking Commonwealth Games.

    Hosting Sport Accord today – alongside all the other amazing events that Birmingham has planned – just demonstrates the power of sporting events.

    The power to bring people together, to instil pride in communities and to have an impact long after the final whistle.

    I want to thank you all for the important work that you do with your organisations to promote sport at every level.

    We know that sport contributes to physical and mental wellbeing, reduces loneliness and provides economic benefits.

    The UK has a fantastic reputation as a host of major events, and we must use these to inspire future generations.

    I, like many others, was inspired by the success of the Lionesses at EURO 2022 and the FIFA World Cup 2023.

    And DCMS honoured their success with £25 million of government funding for the Lionesses Futures Fund,designed to increase access for women and girls.

    The UK Government remains committed to building our reputation for hosting major events, and it is important that we continue to host sporting events that inspire the next generation and build lasting memories.

    We have some magnificent sportspeople, and world-leading experts, who organise and deliver these events to be enjoyed across the globe.

    I saw first hand at the Rugby League World Cup the unique impact that sporting events can have on communities – using sport to reach people across the UK.

    This includes not only the mega events we have in the coming years, such as the Rugby World Cup 2025, the men’s and women’s T20 Cricket World Cups in 2026 and 2030, UEFA EURO 2028 across the whole of the UK and Ireland, and of course the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham in 2026 – but also events like the West Midlands Urban Sports event in Wolverhampton later this year.

    Today I am proud to announce the significant economic and social benefits delivered by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at ‘one year on’.

    An incredible 6.9 million people engaged with this event in 2022, including spectators, athletes, volunteers and employees. The event delivered approximately £1.2 billion Gross Value Added to the UK economy, with nearly half that in the West Midlands alone, creating thousands of jobs in this region.

    In addition, the Games has contributed nearly £80 million in social value, with well over £150 million more expected to be generated longer term. This is a result of the skills and apprenticeships delivered through Games programmes, alongside community use of Games facilities at the revamped Alexander Stadium and the wonderful Sandwell Aquatics Centre.

    I am also delighted to see the £70 million ‘Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund’ continuing to reinvest in projects for communities across the region – including in support of Sport Accord.  This fund provides a welcome boost to ensure the Games legacy continues to be felt in this region and beyond for many years to come.

    It is clear that mega sporting events can have truly transformational impacts on individuals, communities and host nations, and it is vital that we continue to support them in the years ahead.

    As we look to the future, I am extremely excited to build our pipeline into the 2030s and beyond. Our revised UK hosting strategy sets us on that clear path.

    It is so important to make sure that as we look to the future, we are innovative. I am grateful to all the work of those here today in making that happen.

    I wish you all the best for a successful event over the coming days.

  • Lucy Frazer – 2024 Speech at The Big Creative UK Summit

    Lucy Frazer – 2024 Speech at The Big Creative UK Summit

    The speech made by Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, on 3 March 2024.

    Good evening, it is an absolute pleasure to be with you today. I’m delighted to be invited by Caroline who is a real tour de force, who is powering the Creative Industries.

    Creative UK plays a critical advocacy role in convening organisations across the cultural and creative industries. I know hundreds of you are members, and I value the programmes Creative UK runs right across the UK. Creative UK believes creativity can change the world. I believe that too.

    This evening I want to talk about some of the fruits of the joint collaboration between the government and the industry. Fruits which are helping to set a strong framework for the industry to thrive and helped pave the way for the sorts of measures we introduced today.

    I wanted to begin by recognising some of the great creativity I’ve seen over the course of the past year as your Culture Secretary.

    Because there are so many amazing productions that are bringing joy and meaning to people across the country: the first class production of original work in The Motive and the Cue at The National; the modern interpretation of Othello at The Globe; the traditional and beautiful production of Cinderella at Royal Opera House; real British dramas like Happy Valley and Inside Man; outstanding films like Saltburn, and Oppenheimer; the See, Hear, Feel interactive Ukraine exhibition in Liverpool during Eurovision; the incredible Aviva Studios in Manchester, home of the new flagship destination Factory International; our iconic world leading fashion displayed in the NEWGEN Rebel exhibition at the Design Museum.

    Each show, each production, festival or exhibition is incredible in and of itself but it’s also part of a much bigger picture of creative success. And each creative endeavour fundamentally relies on incredible innovation, technical expertise and the craft of so many. Like set specialists 4Wood TV & Film based in Wales and growing into the West Midlands, who build for Doctor Who and much more.

    And while we’ve seen exceptional British talent recognised in recent weeks at the BRITS, at the BAFTAs, London Fashion Week the creativity coming through at the grassroots level is just as inspiring.

    Our start-ups, our schools, our colleges, our grassroots venues are all incubators for ideas and home to the creative geniuses of tomorrow. And our cultural institutions are doing ground-breaking work like the Royal Shakespeare Company transforming literacy rates across England. The National Theatre bringing the best of theatre to schools, libraries and museums. Meanwhile, places like Roundhouse Works in London or The Junction in Cambridge are giving chances to the next generation of musicians and creatives.

    And one of the most inspiring visits I’ve done was to the London Screen Academy. Seeing how Charlie Kennard and the team are building a pipeline of talent of creative confident kids who are learning skills so fundamental to all jobs communication, team work, and presentation skills.

    What is very clear to me is that your ingenuity, your skills, your creative excellence not only brings happiness and meaning to the lives of millions of people it also provides jobs right across the country and cements our status as a cultural superpower on the world stage.

    And I wanted this evening to share with you – just in case it’s you’ve got any doubt about it – just how much this government backs you and the creative industries.

    And I wanted to do this by way of a story. At the end of last year the Prime Minister and Trade Secretary organised the Global Investment Summit. That Summit invited over 200 top international investors to pitch the UK as a destination of foreign investment. There were only 4 plenary sessions and 2 were dedicated to the creative industries – that is half of the presentations reserved for the creative industries.

    It was an overwhelming recognition by this government that today – in 2024 our companies, our innovators, our creators, our artists are putting a British stamp on every creative industry on the world stage. You are our shop window for the globe and we in government recognise that.

    This British success across the globe is, of course, primarily the result of our ingenuity, your talent, your hard work and entrepreneurial spirit. But you have also worked with us in government in partnership. Throughout the last decade you’ve made clear how we can support your industries to thrive and we have listened.

    Extensive tax reliefs.

    £1.57 billion worth of support through the Covid cultural recovery fund.

    A range of funds to help creative entrepreneurs go from start-up to scale-up.

    Consecutive Conservative Governments have identified the potential that exists across our creative economy; they’ve understood the enormous dedication and determination of the businesses and people in these sectors; and they’ve recognised the importance of Creative Industries to our way of life.

    Over the last decade, every year the government has introduced tax reliefs in one form or another.

    From film to animation to video games to orchestras to theatres, these tax reliefs have helped to attract huge global investment into the UK.

    Global investment that translates into local jobs and livelihoods, into new businesses into our towns and cities – big and small – into a culture that encourages creativity at every turn and at every level.

    We in government cannot guarantee success, but all we can do is create the right conditions and the right framework to foster it.

    And I wanted to share with you this evening the impact of all this and what the statistics show. The statistics show: nearly a million new jobs in the Creative Industries since 2011; and the GVA of the sector has increased by 50 percent to £125 billion in 2022.

    Exports of creative industries services are up 210% since 2010.

    And recently published figures confirmed the sector has grown by more than 10% between 2019 and 2022.

    These are not just statistics. Behind these numbers are hundreds, if not thousands of success stories up and down the country.Ideas brought to life by creative industries. Jobs that did not exist over a decade ago. And creativity we have all enjoyed, which could have gone elsewhere, but didn’t.

    None of this would have been possible without the energy, leadership, creativity, passion and investment of the people in this room, and beyond. So I wanted to take this evening to simply say thank you for everything you have done.

    But we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. Last year when I spoke to you at this very same event, I committed to bring forward an ambitious vision for your industries.

    These were not just words, and I wanted to update you on what I have done over the course of the last year together with you.

    In June we launched our Creative Sector Vision, developed in partnership with the Creative Industries Council, and the fantastic Sir Peter Bazalgette, which sets out our plan for the future.

    We have a joint plan to deliver £50 billion of growth, a million more jobs and a pipeline of talent so that the industry can continue to thrive. And we say we will do that by 2030.

    And our plan included £310 million of funding, of which £77 million was recently announced in June, to drive growth in creative businesses across the country, through projects such as financially supporting creative clusters in the regions because we recognise creativity is everywhere.

    It includes a focus on skills from the first day of school to the last day of work, including for example creativity during primary school, specialist schools, more apprenticeships, boot camps in the Creative Industries.

    At the same time as we announced the Creative Industries Sector Vision in June, we announced programmes like: the UK Games Fund to bring through early stage games developers; funding to support grassroots music venues; and a trebling of the Music Exports Growth Scheme that has helped so many emerging artists.

    And today at the Budget we’ve built on all our existing support and the Creative Industries Vision, going further than ever before with a package of £1 billion in measures

    It was a Budget that recognised that within the creative industries there are a whole range of subsectors, each with their own specific needs, each with their own nuances and each with their own huge potential for growth.

    Today what we did was set out bespoke support for so many of these different, constituent parts of the wider sector.

    So for our film studios – which are an essential reason that last year half of the top ten blockbuster UK movies were made on British soil – we are providing support through a 40% business rates relief until 2034, enabling our studios to attract the investment needed from around the world to bring more creativity and more creative jobs to Britain.

    For British independent film we are backing those companies with a new UK Independent Film Tax Credit providing an increased benefit of 53%, enabling this part of the sector to continue to launch the careers of actors, producers and directors and to tell the cultural stories of the whole of the UK.

    For our visual effect sector, there will be a 5% increase in tax relief and we are going to remove the 80% cap on UK visual effects qualifying expenditure. These new visual effects reliefs will come into force in 2025 and our aim is to make the UK a number one global destination for visual effects.

    For our orchestras, museums, galleries and theatres, the CX confirmed today that the Government will set permanent higher rates of tax reliefs to continue the Government’s support for new innovative productions.

    From 1 April 2025 these rates will be permanently set at 45% for all orchestral and touring productions and at 40% for non-touring productions.

    And that’s not all!  As part of our plan to create the pipeline of talent that our creative sectors need to flourish, today’s budget included funding for the National Film and Television School to enable them to extend their site – growing course provision, building a state-of-the-art training centre and continuing to train the next generation of world leading creative talent.

    And, lastly but by no means least, the Chancellor has also announced bespoke support for the National Theatre, one of our great cultural institutions, which is so important to fostering, inspiring and providing opportunities for our creative talent in the UK, by providing £26.4 million for urgent infrastructure improvements. This investment will future-proof the theatre’s facilities and support its long term success.

    These measures have come about because of our joint partnership. Many people in this room have helped to make those announcements happen. You have shown through your excellence and creativity what we can achieve. You and the industry as a whole have provided evidence and case studies and analysis which has helped me to make the case to the Treasury for this investment.

    Taken together these measures mark another big step in the support this government is providing to enable our creative industries to grow; building on our strong track record which goes back for over a decade.

    But let me also say that I appreciate that while the Creative Industries has achieved remarkable growth in recent years, I know it’s not been without its challenges.

    I take seriously my responsibility to listen to, understand and respond to feedback from those on the frontline of our creative industries.

    I know that there are myriad challenges right across your industries.

    Strikes have had an impact on the TV and film sector.

    I know the nature of freelance work creates uncertainty for so many people.

    There is too much bureaucracy, too much red tape and too many restrictions around touring.

    Grassroots venues are struggling to survive.

    Getting investment can sometimes be difficult.

    And that is all without mentioning some of the concerns that exist when it comes to the potential misuse of generative AI to steal the original work of people in this room.

    And I want you to know that I am working across government and beyond on all these issues. I absolutely understand these challenges and do not underestimate them.

    So whilst today is a really, really, really good day for our creative industries…that absolutely doesn’t mean that there isn’t more to do. More to do to ensure that this sector can continue to thrive.

    And that’s why I am committed to working every day to deliver on our Creative Industries Sector Vision. And I look forward to working in partnership with all of you to support the sector to reach its absolute full potential.

    Thank you very much.

  • Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at the Beacon Philanthropy and Impact Forum

    Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at the Beacon Philanthropy and Impact Forum

    The speech made by Stuart Andrew, the Gambling Minister, at Guildhall Yard in London on 29 February 2024.

    Thank you for the introduction, Cath, and good morning everyone.

    It’s a pleasure to be speaking with you, on this extra day of the year.

    It seems apt to mention that today is also the final day of Payroll Giving Month

    And I would encourage us all to consider this fantastic, tax-efficient way of donating to charity directly from your pay or pension.

    Giving is in the DNA of this country

    And the UK is rightly acknowledged as a world leader in philanthropy.

    We know we are one of the most generous countries in the world – the record £12.7 billion given by the public in 2022 is a phenomenal amount.

    We know we have a proud tradition of philanthropy, but there is nonetheless plenty of room for growth.

    As the Minister for Civil Society, I am acutely aware of how central giving is to our communities and charities across the country.

    It’s something I also saw first-hand from my early career in the charitable sector.

    It’s not just across civil society that I have seen the transformative role that philanthropy plays.

    Philanthropy is integral to everything we do in DCMS.

    In sport, fundraising has been fundamental in delivering programmes which seek to deliver social outcomes through participation in sport and physical activity.

    In arts and heritage, philanthropy sustains our most beloved institutions – our museums, heritage sites, and performing arts venues.

    Our partnership with the Wolfson Foundation has played a major role here.

    As has our work with Arts Council England to support arts and cultural organisations to develop their fundraising skills and capacity to attract more private investment.

    The Cultural Gifts and Acceptance In Lieu scheme, meanwhile, has meant treasures such as Tolkien’s manuscripts in Oxford.

    Or the archives of children’s author Judith Kerr in Newcastle.

    Have permanent homes and are made accessible to the public.

    I know philanthropy is not just of critical interest to DCMS.

    Multiple departments are recognising the value of private capital for the public sector.

    The Office for Investment, a joint unit between No.10 and the Department for Business and Trade, has created a new concierge service for high value transformational philanthropic capital.

    Its objective is to increase giving from international donors, in the same manner that it does with inward investment.

    The lead official, Heather Davenport, is here today so please do speak with her to discuss this important topic.

    Spearheaded by the Secretary of State, DCMS is taking the lead role in coordinating efforts across Whitehall to foster a better operating environment for philanthropy in the UK.

    The Secretary of State spoke on this recently at an event I know many of you were able to attend, for the launch of the Onward report.

    She spoke about how we are committed to helping more people give and helping people give more.

    I want to reiterate the three core areas that she mentioned that we can accelerate across Government.

    Firstly, we want to better enable philanthropy and ensure the UK continues to be a good place to give.

    This includes helping people understand how they can give.

    We are working with the Financial Conduct Authority, wealth management firms and the Treasury to explore the possibility of providing greater philanthropy training for financial advisors.

    There is already some innovation in this space, with CFA Society UK recently launching their Certificate in Impact Investing.

    This provides investment professionals with the information they need to advise their clients on how their capital can have greater social and environmental impact.

    Alongside this, my officials are collaborating with HMRC to consider how the tax environment affects philanthropy, and are engaging with them on their potential work to digitalise Gift Aid.

    Complementing this work, we are continuing to support the growth and development of the social impact investing market, which delivers benefits to society alongside financial returns.

    We’re working with large scale investors, such as pension funds, to achieve the change we are looking for.

    We are also focused on unlocking the huge potential of Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs).

    These regional lenders provide affordable loans in the UK’s most disadvantaged places.

    Steps like these can make a huge difference for setting in place the right infrastructure across the country for both philanthropy and impact investing.

    Secondly, we want to encourage more philanthropy, particularly at a regional level.

    One example is West London Zone, a social outcomes partnership where philanthropic money is blended with national and local spend that only pays when measurable outcomes are achieved.

    Partly funded by DCMS, it has made a significant difference to children and young people’s life chances.

    Yet we know that philanthropy is still primarily concentrated in London and the south.

    So we want to explore how similar models could potentially be developed around the country that can maximise social impact.

    Can better reach marginalised communities, and can involve people of all backgrounds.

    The sharing of expertise is central to encouraging people to donate.

    Peer influence also makes a huge difference – one-third of wealthy donors report donating after being encouraged by friends or family.

    So we want to help bring together established philanthropists, and high net worth individuals, with the next wave of budding donors

    Who are socially conscious and want to make an impact.

    People like Sir Lewis Hamilton, who has given £20 million to create his charity Mission 44

    And empower young people from underserved communities and diverse backgrounds.

    This leads me onto our third area of focus, of fully recognising how philanthropy transforms lives and communities.

    We’re seeing how alive and kicking philanthropy is in Stoke-on-Trent, for example

    Where philanthropists of all levels of giving are making a difference.

    From Denise Coates, who has donated millions towards projects in the city, including £10 million to University Hospitals of North Midlands during the pandemic

    To 23-year-old Matthew Bridger, who created his own foundation to provide grants for Stoke charities helping vulnerable people.

    Matthew was recognised earlier this year through the Prime Minister’s daily Points of Light award

    Which recognises the exceptional service people give to their communities.

    We want to celebrate more people who give through awards like these, especially through the Honours system

    And I encourage you all to nominate worthy candidates.

    We also want to champion campaigns and events that highlight the impact of giving.

    So we want to help lead this conversation.

    But the Government cannot, and should not, drive this alone.

    To enable philanthropy, there are key evidence gaps we still need to understand.

    We need high net worth individuals and impact investors to play an active role.

    We need to be hearing from those making a difference with their giving, for us to amplify their voices.

    And so we also want to learn from you and listen.

    Today’s forum provides a perfect opportunity for this.

    As the name suggests, Beacon has been shining a light for many years now on the potential for philanthropists to unlock many of the challenges we face today

    bringing together those with a shared social purpose, and the means to drive investment towards the places that need this most.

    I know there will be many rich conversations over the course of today

    Because there is a real buzz around philanthropy right now

    And, as you have said, Cath, a real sense of hope, in what we can achieve together

    There is an opportunity to capitalise on the kindness of the British public and help make their gifts go further

    To help our charities and communities stay resilient and sustainable

    To allow our world-leading sport, creative and cultural sectors to continue to flourish

    So with that in mind, thank you again for inviting me to speak to you.

    I wish you a very successful day ahead and I look forward to continuing to work closely with the philanthropy sector to help it grow to its full potential.

  • Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at the Betting and Gaming Council Annual General Meeting

    Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at the Betting and Gaming Council Annual General Meeting

    The speech made by Stuart Andrew, the Gambling Minister, on 29 February 2024.

    Good morning everyone, and thank you for the invitation to speak today.

    Before I begin, I would like to say thank you to Brigid for all your work during your time as Chair of the BGC. We appreciate the constructive and considered input you and the BGC have provided to my department’s work, not just during my time as Minister but throughout your tenure.

    Last year my predecessor spoke of the important contributions BGC members make to our national economy. I would like to again recognise this contribution, not just in revenue terms, but also the social and entertainment benefits your businesses bring to millions of customers who enjoy gambling and suffer no harm at all. Throughout my time as minister, and as an MP, I have seen how this industry boosts both local and national economies through jobs and tourism.

    A lot has happened since your last AGM, I think that is a bit of an understatement. In April last year we published the White Paper, setting out 62 proposals that will ensure our gambling laws are fit for the modern age and I am absolutely aware of just how much hard work this has required from the BGC and its members, as well as my department and the Gambling Commission. I would therefore like to put on record my thanks to you all for your cooperation, your engagement and help in developing the proposals, as well as your hard work to begin their implementation over the last 10 months.

    I know that Michael is sick of the sight of me given that we meet almost every week but I have found that engagement really valuable.

    I would now like to provide you with an update on our programme of work and ensure you have clarity on the direction of travel.

    As you will all be aware, our White Paper strikes a balance between consumer freedom – preserving the rights of those who enjoy gambling and suffer no ill-effects – with the necessary action to tackle harmful gambling and the devastating consequences it can have for some individuals and communities.

    It includes a comprehensive range of measures that covers every aspect of the industry, reflecting the huge changes in the gambling landscape since 2005. Around half of the proposals in the White Paper have now been consulted on or have been completed.

    During Monday’s debate I made reference to the white paper consultations. I make no apologies for emphasising the importance of the consultations undertaken by the Government and the Gambling Commission. They have given us invaluable evidence to inform policy making. They ensure that the measures are robust, proportionate, and in line with the White Paper’s objectives. And they show that the Government is listening to your views and evidence.

    I would like to focus the rest of my time today on the announcements made last week by DCMS and the Gambling Commission on our work on online gambling measures.

    You will have seen that last Friday we confirmed the introduction of stake limits for online slot games. Bringing in limits for the first time is a key step in ensuring the regulatory framework is fit for the digital age. Our aim is not to prohibit play, but to embed best practice that many of you already do.

    We are confident that the limits of £5 for over 25s and £2 for 18 to 24 year olds represents a proportional response. It will see online slots aligned with casino limits and will ensure customers are further protected from unaffordable and life-changing losses.

    As set out in the consultation response, these limits will come into force in September this year and have the support of industry.

    We are confident that this is an important step forward in ensuring that the vast majority of people who gamble safely can continue to do so, but that enhanced protections are in place for those who may suffer harm.

    Turning to financial risk checks, the Gambling Commission confirmed last week that they will be proceeding with these proposals. I am sure you hear more on this from Andrew Rhodes later today, but their plans include both the light-touch financial vulnerability checks and the enhanced financial risk assessments.

    The financial vulnerability checks are intended to be introduced in two stages over the course of this summer. Responding to feedback received through the consultation, the Commission has reassured everyone that they will never require gambling businesses to consider an individual’s personal details, such as their postcode or job title, as part of the checks.

    To ease the introduction of these checks, they will initially come into force at a higher threshold for a short period of time, before reverting to a lower threshold later in the year. We expect this lower threshold to be closely aligned with that proposed in the white paper.

    I know that some of your members have concerns with the proposed system of checks. I would like to reiterate that both the Government and the Gambling Commission are listening, because we genuinely we want to get this right.

    We are clear that financial risk checks should not overregulate the gambling sector, should not unduly disrupt the millions of people who gamble without suffering harm, and should not cause unnecessary damage to the industry.

    The proposed system will be a significant improvement to the current system of inconsistent so-called ‘affordability’ checks, which are often onerous for customers to complete. It will provide clear and proportionate rules which all operators are held to, and allow for financial data to be shared seamlessly with operators, instead of burdening customers with information requests.

    I have been clear that these checks should be genuinely frictionless – one of my first discussions with officials on taking on the gambling brief was around how we would deliver this – and the White Paper was clear that they will not be implemented until we can guarantee that they are.

    To ensure these checks are implemented in an effective but proportionate manner the Gambling Commission has announced it will conduct a pilot over the coming months. I am pleased that the pilot will involve collaboration between the Commission, credit reference agencies and a selection of gambling businesses to ensure that the process of an assessment is effective. The sector’s involvement gives me confidence that we will be able to find a solution that everyone can support.

    We are therefore grateful for the input of BGC members into this pilot to ensure it is a meaningful test of the policy. The Commission will consider all issues that arise during the pilot stage – and are clear that this will help refine the final requirements and the models for data-sharing. I, and the Government, are supportive of the evidence-led and consumer-centred approach being proposed during this pilot.

    But until these checks are fully in place, it is essential that the industry is more transparent with its customers.

    An industry-led code is an important stepping stone while frictionless checks are piloted. It will mitigate the impact of customers having to provide documentation, while we develop this new, frictionless system of checks.

    I know that discussions are ongoing between the Commission and industry, and I really would urge all parties to come to an agreement on this code as soon as possible for the benefit of customers.

    I would now like to turn briefly to horse racing and the concerns about the impact of financial risk checks on the sport. I want to reassure you again that we have heard these concerns and take them very seriously.

    I have met with the British Horseracing Authority and the Betting and Gaming Council several times as we conduct our review of the Horserace Betting Levy, which is due by April this year.

    As there is currently no legislative opportunity to amend the levy, I have encouraged the betting and racing industries to work together on a voluntary deal. I am very grateful for the constructive manner in which those negotiations have taken place. We said in the White Paper that we will ensure that racing is appropriately funded going forward, and I am confident that agreement can be reached which is mutually beneficial and is in the best interests of the sport.

    I am grateful for the work which operators have undertaken with the Gambling Commission to explore the practical aspects of implementing these checks. We want to protect those at risk of harm – something that I make no apologies for – but with minimal disruption to the majority, who I recognise bet on horse racing with no ill effect.

    We know that British racing is a substantial asset to the country. We remain committed to supporting the industry to prosper, and I am confident that the way in which these checks will be implemented will not prevent that from happening.

    I know you will be keen to understand what is coming next in the pipeline.

    We will publish our consultation responses on land-based gambling measures and the statutory levy in the coming months, and will lay secondary legislation to bring measures into force across all relevant areas as soon as parliamentary time allows. Nonetheless, I am absolutely determined to ensure that we deliver on our commitment to bring key measures into force by the summer of this year.

    Thank you again for inviting me to speak today, and giving me this opportunity to update you on our programme of reform. As we look to conclude work on our key proposals I hope I have demonstrated to you that we will continue to listen, we will test, and we will adapt our approach as this fast-moving industry develops and I thank you for that continued engagement.

  • Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at the Women & Girls in Sport Conference

    Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at the Women & Girls in Sport Conference

    The speech made by Stuart Andrew, the Minister for Sport on 20 February 2024.

    Thank you for inviting me here today, it is fantastic to see so many people here today who have a passion for women’s sport.

    I want to take this opportunity to tell you about the work the Government has been doing to ensure that women’s sport continues to thrive and to reiterate our commitment to supporting women’s sport at every opportunity – pushing for greater participation, employment, commercial opportunities, and visibility in the media.

    The Lionesses’ success at the EUROs helped make 2022 a landmark year for women’s sport, with the country winning its first major football trophy since 1966.

    Their journey to the final of the UEFA World Cup in 2023 continued to ignite unprecedented interest in the women’s game.

    This has clearly inspired many women and girls to take up the sport. The proof is in the stats – recent BBC analysis shows that there are now twice as many registered female football teams in England as there were just seven years ago.

    In September 2022, we commissioned Karen Carney to lead the Independent Review of Women’s Football.

    The Review, published in July 2023, was brave and unapologetic in its demand for change.

    It identified ten strategic recommendations that should be implemented to help create a sustainable future for women’s football.

    Our response, published at the end of 2023, sets out the Government’s continued support for the delivery of these recommendations.

    We see this as an opportunity to transform women’s football into a world-leading sport that not only creates significant economic and social benefits, but also raises the minimum standards for women’s sports on an international scale.

    To ensure momentum and delivery remains a priority, the Government will be convening an implementation group with all stakeholders responsible for delivering recommendations within the Review.

    The first meeting is scheduled for March 2024 and will ensure mutual accountability amongst stakeholders.

    The ambition has always been for the Review’s recommendations to go beyond women’s football and to apply to women’s sport more broadly.

    With this in mind, and following the recommendation in the Review, the Government will be convening a Board of Women’s Sports with industry leaders, academics and National Governing Bodies.

    This group will connect leaders from across women’s sports – building a shared vision to support women and girls in sport and looking at existing and future opportunities to help women’s sport continue to grow.

    Women’s sport will be a highlight at the Olympic and Paralympic events in Paris this year.

    Paris 2024 will be the first Olympics in history to achieve numerical gender parity on the field of play, with the same number of female and male athletes participating in the largest sporting event in the world.

    To help increase the visibility of women’s sport we will continue to support and champion the UK’s hosting of major women’s sporting events.

    The UK has an excellent international reputation in hosting major sporting events – with these events delivering benefits for the whole country.

    Future events include both the 2025 Rugby World Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup, which I am pleased to say will both be held in England.

    This is all good news but we recognise that a number of challenges remain.

    Building a strong evidence base through data is a top priority for DCMS – helping to ensure the impact of sport and physical activity is articulated clearly so that we can see what interventions are needed to get specific groups active.

    The recent Active Lives Children and Young People Survey tells us that boys are more likely to be active than girls.

    Women in Sport’s latest impact report shows that girls as young as five years old don’t feel they belong in sport and that 1.3 million girls who used to love sport disengage as teenagers.

    Statistics like these are precisely why tackling disparities in participation levels is such a key part of our sport strategy, to ensure there is an inclusive offer for all.

    Published in August last year, our sport strategy – Get Active, sets out the long-term strategic policy direction for the sector. Our aim is to see 1.25 million more active women in England by 2030.

    Our focus is on establishing a lifetime of engagement with sport, supporting the sector to be welcoming to all, and ensuring the sector is prepared for future challenges and opportunities.

    This includes our ambition to provide the infrastructure and conditions needed to get as many women and girls involved in sport.

    As part of the sport strategy, we also launched the National Physical Activity Taskforce. The Taskforce connects government departments with the sector and independent experts, to focus on measurable actions that will get an additional 3.5 million people active.

    The Taskforce will ensure that we continue to tackle disparities in participation levels by promoting women’s and disability sport; by championing diversity; and by focussing on helping those who have the most to gain from getting active.

    And there are a number of initiatives which are encouraging more women and girls to be active, such as Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign.

    The campaign aims to eliminate fear of judgement. Sport England’s latest data shows that just over 3 million women said they increased their sport and physical activity levels as a result of the campaign. In addition, almost 1.5 million women say they started or restarted physical activity.

    Sport England have also developed the Studio You PE teaching resource which aims to get young girls engaged in PE lessons. The platform offers video-based lessons covering a range of non-traditional activities, like boxing, dance, pilates and yoga.

    In order to allow more women and girls to access more opportunities to be active, we are also investing over £600 million in school sport across the next two academic years.

    This investment will help deliver girls’ equal access to opportunities to play sport and do physical activity.

    We are also investing over £320 million into grassroots football and multi-sport facilities across the UK by 2025.  This will further support women and girls to get active. And all projects in England need to have a clear women and girls plan to receive funding.

    And we’ve committed to go further still. In November last year, the Government announced it is investing £25 million alongside £5 million from the English Football Association, to create a new Lionesses Futures Fund.

    This fund is expected to deliver up to 30 state-of-the-art 3G artificial grass pitches across England, providing gold-standard provision for women and girls, with reserved peak-time slots, women and girls only evenings and priority bookings for female teams.

    It is vital that everyone participating in sport feels safe and secure and that where allegations of inappropriate or harmful behaviour are made, these are taken seriously.

    UK Sport, Sport England and the Government have already taken significant steps to improve safeguarding in sport, including the revision of standards and protections for children in sport, the piloting of an independent complaints and disclosure system for elite sport, and the strengthening of positions of trust legislation.

    We welcome the recent announcement by UK Sport and Sport England to improve safeguarding in sport, following on from the recommendations of the Whyte Review into gymnastics.

    We will continue working alongside the sport and physical activity sector to identify the most pressing integrity challenges and potential improvements, including how processes around complaint handling and dispute resolution can be strengthened.

    We ran a call for evidence last autumn as a vital first step in this process. We wanted to hear how the current systems for handling concerns in sport work, and how these could be strengthened.

    We hope to publish the results of this exercise soon.

    We also know that one area that is attracting a lot of debate at the moment is the issue of transgender participation in sport.

    We want to ensure that everybody in this country has the opportunity to play and enjoy sport.

    Where sex does have an impact on the fairness of competitive women’s sport, domestic governing bodies and international federations must provide clear direction to protect the integrity of women’s sport.

    A way forward is needed that protects and shows compassion to all athletes, whilst being clear that the integrity of competition must be maintained.

    I will continue to engage with sports on this issue to understand what work national governing bodies are doing to protect women’s sport.

    In terms of media coverage, it is fantastic to see elite women’s sport getting better coverage. Recent data published by the Women’s Sport Trust shows that major international women’s sporting events, such as the Football World Cup and the Solheim Cup, as well as women’s cricket and rugby are continuing to drive record-breaking audience figures.

    In terms of investment, I am delighted to see that we are continuing to see record deals struck.

    The Department for Business and Trade has launched a Women’s Sport Investment Accelerator scheme. The scheme is providing a series of sessions offering market insights, connections and networking events alongside comprehensive mentoring for rights holders who are looking for investment.

    However, we know there is more to do to drive up audience figures and to build the case for further investment in women’s sport.

    Turning to governance, I am pleased that the strengthened Code for Sports Governance requires National Governing Bodies in receipt of significant public funding to agree a detailed and ambitious diversity and inclusion action plan with Sport England and UK Sport.

    Perhaps most importantly though, as Minister for Sport and Equalities, I am committed to creating an environment where women and girls feel safe and encouraged to be involved in sport in any capacity.

    I am hugely concerned about the effect that targeted online abuse can have on women and girls in sport.

    No-one should work in an environment where this behaviour is accepted, everyone should be treated with the respect they deserve.

    I want to take this opportunity to reassure you that we, as Government, take this behaviour very seriously. And I am personally committed to doing all I can to stamp out discrimination of any kind in sport.

    In conclusion, it is our ambition to increase participation, visibility and investment in women’s sport as highlighted in our strategy.

    These three interconnected areas together will help to create system-wide change.

    As I mentioned at my recent Select Committee appearance, I also want to take this opportunity to pay thanks to the heroes up and down the UK – the women and girls who volunteer day in, day out to help their communities engage in sport and physical activity.

    Not only do they contribute massively to sport, but they also help target important wider issues such as loneliness. Thank you to you all.

    I look forward to continuing to work with you all to ensure that all aspects of women’s sport continue to flourish.

  • Lucy Frazer – 2024 Speech at the Ad Association LEAD Conference

    Lucy Frazer – 2024 Speech at the Ad Association LEAD Conference

    The speech made by Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 8 February 2024.

    Good morning everyone. I want to start by recognising the significant role that you, and your sector, play in our economy and there couldn’t be a better forum for that message.

    The Advertising Association, IPA and ISBA – are among the strongest voices for the ad industry in the UK and each body is recognised for being an effective champion for all of our brilliant media agencies, brands and creatives.

    And it’s a pertinent week for this Conference. Because on the other side of the Atlantic, they are gearing up for one of – if not the – most important days in the advertising calendar. The Super Bowl.

    Despite all that has changed with the revolution in what we watch…when we watch…and where we watch TV – this sporting moment has retained its place at the pinnacle of advertising.

    With a TV audience over 100 million, the pressure to deliver compelling material is overwhelming.

    Last year alone, the cost for a 30 second slot was $7 million.

    But what stands out is not the cost, it’s the quality. And the adverts have become part of the event and part of the spectacle.

    Ahead of today’s event I was reflecting on what makes advertising so important.

    The first thing that comes to mind is the creativity that you see every day expressed through advertising – and how that creativity is the basis for one of the most successful industries in the country.

    But more than that, the success of these industries actually provides: cheaper newspapers and magazines for readers to enjoy; your favourite hits on commercial radio; the ability to watch Coronation Street for free; and seeing the entire industry of podcasts setting up from nothing a few years ago and entertaining, informing and challenging us today.

    None of these would be free or available at affordable prices without the work you do with adverts.

    Advertising is an essential cog in the free market.

    And on top of that, you arm people with the information they need to make decisions about what to buy.

    I recognise – and this Government recognises – what your industry does for our economy.

    Our Creative Industries are growing at twice the rate of the rest of our economy and last year accounted for £126 billion.

    And advertising is a massive part of that success story. It already accounts for around 15% of Creative Industries output and all indicators suggest it will continue to grow in size.

    Last year alone, Ad Association figures show the UK ad market is estimated to have grown by 6% to reach £37 billion.

    This growth and value is a credit to the way our companies have become magnets for the best ingenuity, the best creativity and the best talent.

    Today, in 2024, there are very few places in the world that can rival our status as a global hub for the industry.

    I’m proud to be the Secretary of State responsible for the advertising industry. It’s undeniably a world-class sector.

    But I believe we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible.

    When I became Culture Secretary, I made it one of my first priorities to maximise the potential of our Creative Industries.

    And I want advertising to help lead that charge.

    Last year I set out a Creative Industries Vision to deliver £50bn of extra economic growth, 1 million extra jobs and a pipeline of talent for 2030.

    This will only be possible with Government and industry working together and with a shared purpose.

    It’s a blueprint that is packed with measures, from investment in R&D to support for businesses scaling up across the country.

    And a major part of it is a focus on skills.

    If we want our advertising industry to thrive in the future, we need the right skills for the right jobs.

    Advertising has long been an incubator for creative skills and where some of our great artists got their break.

    …before Salman Rushdie wrote Midnight’s Children, he worked at Ogilvy and came up with slogans like ‘Irresistibubble’ for Aero.

    …Jonathan Glazer – the English director of the haunting new portrayal of Auschwitz, The Zone of Interest – started off as a filmmaker for brands like Stella Artois and Volkswagen.

    All incredible talents. All artists who originally found expression in advertising.

    So through our Creative Industries Vision we’re working closely with the Department for Education on a Cultural Education Plan.

    The aim of which will be to give our children greater access to culture and art at school age.

    This week is also National Apprenticeships Week.

    Like you, I’m determined to increase take-up of apprenticeships in advertising and marketing sectors.

    And that’s why in July I co-chaired, with the Education Secretary, a roundtable exploring solutions to apprenticeship challenges and how we can make sure they are flexible and work in the interests of companies in sectors like advertising.

    We’re also working closely with the Advertising Association and The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising on the Creative Careers Programme.

    That programme will help encourage 11 to 18 year olds to pursue creative careers through events, panel talks and filmed content with industry leaders, and I know that the Ad Unlocked section of the programme reached around 2,500 students from 100 schools during Discover Week 2023

    The programme will help highlight the range of skills that are relevant to professions like advertising in the future.

    Because as we see skills in data and Artificial Intelligence are becoming more and more relevant.

    And of course we must all recognise the impact of AI.

    I know that, in the same way that advertising was one of the first industries to use machine learning and algorithms for more effective analytics and customer targeting advertising is already leading the way in applying AI to different parts of its day-to-day work.

    From more conventional uses like making ads easier to generate and track…

    Or writing marketing emails with subject lines and delivery times tailored to specific subscribers.

    To less conventional uses like Heinz giving fans of its Ketchup bottle a chance to see it redesigned in an infinite range of styles, from impressionism to a stained glass Ketchup window. Or a recent campaign from Virgin Voyages that allowed users to prompt a digital avatar of Jennifer Lopez to issue customised video invitations to a cruise.

    We are seeing companies across this sector beginning to innovate, experiment and embrace AI. To use AI in a positive way, and one that customises the experience for audiences.

    WPP’s chief executive, Mark Read, said recently that AI will be as transformative as the internet was 30 years ago. He’s right.

    And as the world’s largest advertising group, WPP has been at the forefront of investments in AI and is a company that clearly recognises that this technology should be a creativity-enhancing tool.

    As a government, we want to harness the benefits of AI – right across society – to spur productivity and growth.

    And I see no reason why it cannot be a force for good for UK advertising.

    Advertising agencies have an enviable record of growing in response to technological shifts, not shrinking.

    But we are also clear that AI – which relies purely on data – cannot replicate the creativity that can only come from a human being.

    We are looking closely at how to ensure creators have the control and transparency they need over their content when it is used by AI models.

    And we are committed to ensuring that AI is used responsibly.

    To that end, the Advertising Standards Authority recently published their 5 year strategy for AI-Assisted collective ad regulation.

    This strategy sets out how they will use their new AI-based Active Ad Monitoring system to identify and swiftly act against irresponsible online ads.

    But there is work to do, across all sectors, to understand the risks associated with AI – as well as the benefits.

    I want to finish by touching on our online advertising programme.

    As many of you will know, tackling online harm has been a key focus for this government and this includes harms associated with advertising.

    When we published the response to our consultation on the Online Advertising Programme in July, we set out a plan to build a regulatory framework that would be agile and fit for purpose.

    And this included a targeted focus on tackling illegal advertising, and increasing protections for under-18s against adverts for products and services that are illegal to be sold to them.

    We’re committed to doing this and there will be legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

    Ahead of that though, we’ll be publishing a further consultation on the details.

    And we will look carefully at the interaction with the Online Safety Act, and its fraudulent advertising duty which captures the largest online platforms and search services.

    At the same time, under the leadership of people like the co-Chair, Mark Lund, the Online Advertising Taskforce is driving forward actions to raise standards.

    And we continue to encourage industry to work closely with the Advertising Standards Authority, including on its principles for intermediaries and platforms.

    I know this is something many of you have been involved in and that there’s collaboration across the Advertising Association, IAB UK, IPA & ISBA to address illegal advertising and improve the overall advertising landscape.

    I’d like to finish by thanking you all again for the generous invitation to this important event and for your engagement with my department.

    You’ve got a packed agenda and one that reflects the fact that advertising has arguably never been more influential than it is today.

    I want to continue working with you in a way that is strategic and forward thinking.

    And in a way that maximises the true potential of your businesses, your agencies and your brands.

    So thank you again, and I look forward to continuing our work with all of you in the future.

  • Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at the Active Uprising Conference

    Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at the Active Uprising Conference

    The speech made by Stuart Andrew, the Sports Minister, in London on 1 February 2024.

    Hello everyone,

    Thank you for the introduction, and for inviting me to speak today. I am delighted to be here with you all.

    Firstly I want to thank you all for the important work you do to help build a healthier and more productive nation. Being active promotes individual wellbeing, reduces loneliness and strengthens communities.

    A fit and active workforce also has a positive effect on employment skills and job readiness and contributes significantly to our economy.

    As you know, we recently published our new Sport Strategy, ‘Get Active’, where we set out our unapologetic ambition to build a more active nation and ensure the sector can thrive in the years ahead.

    As part of the strategy, we committed to the target of 2.5 million more adults and 1 million more children being classed as ‘active’ by 2030.

    Whilst the Government has a vital role to play in meeting this ambition, securing the sport and physical activity sector’s active involvement is central to making this ambition a reality. Each and every one of you can help us to make a difference.

    That is why, as part of Get Active, we launched the National Physical Activity Taskforce. It aims to connect government departments with the sector and independent experts, to focus on measurable actions that will get an additional 3.5 million people active.

    I am delighted that ukactive – as part of the National Sector Partnerships Group – is a standing member of the taskforce. This helps to ensure that your voice is heard and your views represented at the table.

    Lioness legend Jill Scott is also a permanent member of the taskforce, helping to provide a fresh perspective on how we get the nation moving. It is great to see that she will be joining you later today.

    Get Active also sets out our desire to ensure that our country has a sport and physical activity sector which is efficient and resilient – one which is financially robust and environmentally sustainable. The Government is committed to working in collaboration with all of you to achieve these ambitions.

    It is great to see that data will be a key theme throughout today’s conference. It is something that is a top priority for DCMS – helping to ensure the role and impact of sport and physical activity is articulated clearly.

    We have already come a long way as a sector in achieving this. We now need to ensure that the evidence base is indisputable, so that those ‘outside the tent’ can be convinced. We need all of you to do your part in helping push this forward, by sharing data and helping us react to its findings.

    A great example of where data is being used to empower the sector and drive forward participation is within public leisure. Alongside the private sector, public leisure provides a vital contribution to the wellbeing ecosystem.

    Sport England’s Moving Communities service helps us understand the social value of public leisure centres to those who use them most. They recorded over 211 million visits to over 1000 public leisure facilities in the last 12 months alone.  A third of those visits were to the gym and a fifth were for using the pool. These visits were made by just over 10 million people, with more than half women and just over a quarter under the age of 16.

    This data helps build a picture of what interventions are needed to get specific groups active and ensure there is an inclusive offer for all.

    This insight also helps open the door to understanding other opportunities where sport and physical activity could make a difference.

    As we set out in the Get Active strategy, facilities provide important community hubs, connect individuals with the areas in which they live and help to deliver on important social and mental health outcomes.

    The Government is playing its part – the Swimming Pool Support Fund is helping to keep the nation’s public swimming pools afloat. I am delighted that we have been able to support hundreds of swimming pools across England.

    In particular, through the Fund we are improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of facilities to safeguard them for future generations.

    This investment is part of our wider efforts to improve facilities across the country – with over £400 million from 2021 to 2025 which includes multi-sport pitches, tennis courts and swimming pools, to make sure every community has access to the facilities they need.

    Likewise, the Department for Health’s new WorkWell service will support Integrated Care Services in developing localised plans for work and health strategies. It is clear that both the private and public leisure sector have a role to play in this work in helping to empower individuals to get back on track.

    Nonetheless, there is clearly more work that needs to be done. Too many people are still not getting the benefits that being physically active brings.

    As a Government we continue to consider ways in which we can ensure that the sector has the conditions to enable it to prosper. Because we know the more active we are, the stronger and healthier our communities and economy, and the more prosperous our society.

    I thank you for all you do and I urge you all to continue to make sport and physical activity an essential part of everyone’s daily life.

    No matter how big or small your business, together, we can make a difference.

    I hope you enjoy the rest of the conference today –  and make the most of the opportunity to build connections across the sector and to share successes with each other.