Press release: New independent review marks vital opportunity to improve working conditions in the Creative Industries

PEC launches six-week Call for Evidence for submissions on job quality and working practices

Monday 21 March 2022 – The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) has today launched a ‘Call for evidence’ as it spearheads a new independent review of working conditions in the Creative Industries.

The Creative Industries encapsulate the vision for a high-skilled and high-performance workforce. Yet, while creative work provides fulfilment and purpose in some cases it can also be relatively low paid, with long hours and precarious contracts – often to the detriment of the diversity and wellbeing of those working in the sector.

The PEC has today launched a six-week ‘Call for Evidence’ inviting submissions on job quality and working practices within the sector. While individual workers are encouraged and welcome to share their experiences, the PEC is particularly interested in hearing from organisations who represent large cohorts of people with a focus on ensuring a representative range of experiences.

Creative Industries Minister Julia Lopez said:

“The success of our booming creative industries relies on our highly skilled workforce and their ongoing resilience.

“This independent review is a great chance for us to get a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing those working in the sector so it can continue to thrive.”

Hasan Bakhshi, Director, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) said:

“The UK’s Creative Industries have the opportunity to be a trailblazer as the first sector to agree a Good Work Strategy: to demonstrate how modern work can be good work. As well as labour market reforms we may need sectoral strategies that tackle distinct issues. This review will help build consensus around the most pressing priorities for promoting quality work in the sector.”

Iain Munro, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland said:

“The development of fair work principles is well underway in Scotland and we welcome the opportunity to be a partner in this work. Our creative industries represent a complex mix of creativity and culture and we need to understand better how they function and how we can ensure they provide good work for the thousands of people motivated to be part of this sector. We are progressing distinct and focused interventions in Scotland, but in continuing our relationship with the Nesta Policy and Evidence Centre, we see the benefits that can be gained by the partnership of a 4 nations approach to this research project, one that is underpinned by the intellectual rigour of leading academics.”

Gerwyn Evans, Deputy Director, Creative Wales said:

“We welcome this review. It will provide a valuable evidence base to help inform and steer actions to support sustainable and inclusive growth in the Creative Industries in Wales as part of a fair work economy for all.

‘Creative Wales will actively engage in this important exercise, and we encourage partners and stakeholders in Wales to get involved to ensure their voices are heard.”

Heather Carey, PEC Co-Investigator and Co-Director of Work Advance said:

“The Creative Industries have an impressive track record of rapid economic growth and job creation. The Call for Evidence, launched today, seeks to kickstart a conversation about the quality of work in the Creative sector. Through this Review, we want to hear from a diversity of voices from across the Creative Industries, in all four UK nations, and particularly freelancers and those currently underrepresented in the sector. This will be vital to deepen our collective understanding of the opportunities and the challenges that Creative work presents and how Government and Industry can work together to ensure that all Creative work is Good Work.”

The Review will establish:

a baseline picture of job quality in the Creative Industries
build consensus on the most pressing concerns and priority themes for promoting quality work in the sector.
provide evidence-led policy recommendations for Government in the four UK nations and industry

The Call for Evidence is open until 5pm Friday 29 April 2022. Submissions should be made via email and all guidance information is available: https://www.pec.ac.uk/news/good-work. If you would prefer to submit evidence via a telephone interview or via a postal response please see the website for details of how to do so. All questions regarding the Call for Evidence should be sent to: goodwork@pec.ac.uk

/ENDS

Press contact

Alice Kent alice.kent@nesta.org.uk 07779029055 and Anna Zabow, 07713 619077 / anna.zabow@nesta.org.uk For information about the Call for Evidence process and how to submit please contact: goodwork@pec.ac.uk

Notes to Editors

1. This Call for Evidence is part of a wider independent Good Work Review of the Creative Industries. It is being carried out by Work Advance as a consortium member of the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC). The Review is supported by research grants awarded to the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

2. Developing a Good Work Strategy for the Creative Industries to advance a long-term plan to ensure the creative sector offers Good Work to those from all backgrounds was one of the key recommendations in the PEC’s research report: Social mobility in the creative economy: Rebuilding and levelling up? Written by Heather Carey, Dr Dave O’Brien, Dr Olivia Gable (September 2021 )

3. About the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC)

The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) works to support the growth of the UK’s Creative Industries through the production of independent and authoritative evidence and policy advice. Led by Nesta and funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, the Centre comprises of a consortium of universities from across the UK (Birmingham; Cardiff; Edinburgh; Glasgow; LSE; Manchester; Newcastle; Sussex; Ulster and Work Advance). The PEC works with a diverse range of industry partners including Creative UK. To find out more, visit www.pec.ac.uk and @CreativePEC

4. About Work Advance

Work Advance provides independent research, evaluation and advisory services, working collaboratively to secure practical improvements and bring lasting positive change to the world of work: supporting a more competitive and inclusive future for the UK. https://workadvance.co.uk/

5. The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) is part of the Creative Industries Clusters Programme, which is funded by the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and delivered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council on behalf of UK Research and Innovation.