Creative Industries: Creating Jobs and Productivity Growth

Baroness Donaghy Excerpts

Thursday 6th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Donaghy (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Thornton for this debate, and it is great to see her on top form. My inspiration has always been the theatre. To be taken as a schoolchild to Stratford by our English teacher to see, for example, Paul Scofield’s “King Lear” or Vanessa Redgrave and Peter O’Toole in “The Taming of the Shrew”, established a lifetime interest. It was positively thrilling to listen to the three wonderful maiden speeches, from the noble Lord, Lord Brennan, the noble Baroness, Lady Griffin, and the noble Lord, Lord Lemos—it is a privilege to have been here today for that.

I also congratulate the Government on recognising in their industrial strategy that the creative industries are one of the eight growth-driving sectors. We are world-leading in so many subsectors of the creative industries, but not really thanks to any government support up to now, and I echo the words of the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, about supporting freelancers. I welcome the establishment of the Creative Industries Taskforce, and it will focus on areas such as crowding in investment, access to opportunity, people and skills, and supporting innovation. As a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, I am aware of the great impact on the RSC of the noble Baroness, Lady Vadera, as its chair.

I will concentrate on our heritage sector, on higher education funding and on barriers to talent such as poor employment conditions.

We neglect our heritage sector at our peril. Creative UK has pointed out that our heritage sector may find it a challenge to immediately demonstrate high short-term growth, but it has long-term potential. It is right when it states that the heritage sector is

“an incubator for the cultural and creative industries”.

We are debating here in a historic Chamber of a historic building that, as politicians, we cannot even agree to leave to preserve our precious heritage and to ensure restoration and renewal is carried out in the most cost-effective way. It is a history of lack of political will and shameful neglect. Will the Minister accept that our national heritage is an important part of any strategy in our creative sector?

The cost of funding higher education courses supporting the creative sector is often comparatively high, with state-of-the-art studios and facilities, highly skilled technicians and specialist equipment, materials and space, yet they are not recognised as strategically important by the Office for Students. Its measure of quality also disadvantages creative subjects, with its narrow focus on the job that graduates are working in just 15 months after finishing their studies. While outcomes are important, this fails to recognise the unique make-up of the creative sector, which has a high proportion of start-ups and micro-businesses, and where graduates frequently see non-linear career progression, often working freelance or on short-term projects. Will discussions take place with the Office for Students about this prioritisation?

The British Academy and the University of the Arts London—it is good to see the noble Lord, Lord Bichard, in his place, because of his background in those colleges—have mentioned the importance of research and development. Despite the economic value of the creative industries, we undervalue and undercount them in terms of research and development. It is harder to capture and less well supported by policy levers such as tax credits. Will there be a shift in this prejudice?

Although most jobs in this sector are insecure and short-term, the industry need not be identified with a low-paid, precarious existence. Unpaid internships and working for exposure are prevalent. Those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or the disabled should not be locked out of a creative career. Will there be discussions with the trade unions in the sector to improve conditions?

Finally, I find it is an absolute privilege to take part in this debate this afternoon, and it is wonderful to know the richness of experience and commitment that we have in our House.