The UK government has today, 26 August, announced the launch of the Creative Trade Forum, a new partnership between government and industry leaders. The forum aims to help UK creative businesses, spanning film, TV, music, and arts, sell more ideas, talent, and products internationally.
Minister for Reindustrialisation Blair McDougall launched the forum during a visit to the Edinburgh Festivals. Co-chairs Francesca Hegyi, CEO of Edinburgh International Festival, and Michael Frohlich, Chief Marketing Officer at WPP, joined the launch. The forum will report to the Creative Industries Council and includes leaders from organisations such as YouTube, the British Film Institute, and BBC Studios.
The forum's objectives include providing industry-led insight to the government, identifying barriers to growth, championing UK creative exports, attracting investment, and building stronger international commercial partnerships. It will also offer creative businesses direct access to industry and government expertise to aid market entry and commercial success.
In addition to the forum's launch, Innovate UK announced £10 million in new funding for its Next Wave programme. This funding is intended to help UK creative technology businesses scale up. Innovate UK plans to launch further funding opportunities in 2027 to support film and TV, video games, music, performing and visual arts, and advertising and marketing.