In further indication of the increasing importance the Government is putting on the creative industries, a new initiative launches this week that will provide unprecedented insight on what drives growth in the sector. Crucially, it will be able to determine for the first time how potential growth factors interrelate.
The Creative Business Panel (CBP) is led by the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) and CoSTAR Foresight Lab, in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Involving five waves of surveying and running until 2028, the Creative Business Panel will transform the quantity and depth of insight available to both businesses and government when it comes to supporting growth.
Led by the AHRC-funded Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) and CoSTAR (Convergent Screen Technologies and Performance in Realtime) Foresight Lab, the survey will track the behaviours, performance and experiences of businesses across all creative sub-sectors, business sizes and UK locations. It’s the first time such holistic evidence about the sector will be brought together in one place.
Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports, Gareth Thomas said:
“I’m delighted my Department is supporting this vital research, enabling us to have a greater in-depth understanding of our world-leading Creative Industries.
“We’re serious about fostering innovation, that’s why our upcoming Industrial Strategy will encourage further investment into the sector, increasing exports, kickstarting economic growth and supporting our Plan for Change.”
Professor Hasan Bakhshi, Creative PEC, Director and member of the Government’s Creative Industries Taskforce says:
“The Creative Industries have come of age in UK policy terms but the data to support evidence-based policy development is lagging. This is where the Creative Business Panel will step in. With the UK Government’s support, we will be collecting data on business behaviours and performance from creative businesses on a consistent basis over time and unprecedented scale. I urge everyone invited to respond to the CBP to take part in this vitally important research.”
Professor Jonny Freeman, CoSTAR Foresight Lab, Director says:
“The intelligence we collect from businesses via the Creative Business Panel will form a key pillar of the CoSTAR Foresight Lab’s work, generating invaluable insight about the adoption, use and impact of new technology in the creative industries. In turn, this will support our mission to map the future of Games, Film, TV, Performance and Digital Entertainment.”
AHRC Executive Chair Professor Christopher Smith says:
“To ensure that our creative industries remain a remarkable success story and continue to deliver growth across the UK, we need the evidence to inform policy development and technology adoption. AHRC is delighted to be supporting research driven policy and evidence in, with and for the creative industries
“The Creative Business Panel will bring together expertise from two of our investments to provide the data and insights that will shape the future economy – just part of our ongoing commitment to data and growth in our creative sector.”
The CBP will also lead a cutting-edge examination of the use of emerging technologies and will support businesses to adopt digital innovations that could enhance their competitiveness, foster diverse and inclusive workforces, and drive profitability and sustainability.
Data collection for the first wave of the study begins week commencing 3 March 2025, with selected businesses receiving an invitation to participate from independent research agency Verian. Random sampling using the official Inter-Departmental Business Register will ensure all sub-sectors are represented throughout the research which will run until 2028. The first wave report will be published later this year.
