Erskine Analysis

The UK is broken (apparently). There’s “no opportunity, no confidence, no optimism in our future.” It feels like every day there’s another report, another think piece, another piece of commentary that downplays what the UK has to offer to the world. It's easy to get lost in the noise – and it's especially easy for the naysayers to chip in and talk our country down. But if there’s something that makes me believe in Britain, it’s our creativity, and tech scene working hand in hand. We already lead the world in these areas - but we can do more. That's why the new CreaTech report commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is so important. It’s a valuable contribution to the conversation, one that we had a small voice in, and it’s this kind of collaboration between industry and policymakers that we need more of to drive real change and deliver real growth. The report highlights that the UK is at a crossroads where burgeoning creative talent, companies, and ideas are interacting with emerging technologies. To seize this advantage, we need bold, transformative action. The recommendations are spot on: ?? A radical overhaul of our education system to integrate creative and technical subjects from the earliest years. ?? A dedicated plan to turbocharge public and private R&D funding for CreaTech. ?? Establishing a ‘CreaTech Catapult’ to create a hub for cutting-edge experimentation, knowledge transfer, and collaboration. ?? A government-backed Fund of Funds to plug the late-stage funding gap that sees our most promising CreaTech companies look overseas for investment. Let’s stop talking ourselves down. The UK can claim its place as the global leader in CreaTech. If we act boldly and ambitiously, the rewards could shape our economy, our society, and our standing in the world for decades to come. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eJFM5ia8 The Royal Anniversary Trust Founders Forum Group Founders Makers

We were delighted to welcome Coronation Challenge participants and parliamentarians to a reception at the House of Commons hosted by Baroness Gail Rebuck last night - celebrating the launch of the CreaTech report: https://lnkd.in/ermEWrgY. Sir Damon Buffini, who chaired the Advisory Board for this project, led with a rallying call for increased public investment in the Creative Industries, highlighting in particular a need for late-stage investment. Lead researcher Eliza Easton from Erskine Analysis provided a window into the new data analysis in the report, which offers an insight into opportunities and challenges in this sector. She spoke about the "joy" of working with winners of the Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education (formerly Queen's Anniversary Prizes). With thanks again to creative industry consultants Erskine Analysis for leading the research for this project: Eliza Easton, George Windsor, Dr Allan Watson and Tom Webster. Wonderful to see so many Advisory Board members as well last night including: Tom Adeyoola, Rishi Coupland, Sarah Ellis, Hilary Hall, Graham Jack, Kate O'Connor, Christopher Smith, Jeremy Silver, Jon Zeff. The Coronation Challenge CreaTech research project was commissioned by Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Pictured below: Sir Damon Buffini and Baroness Shriti Vadera. Photo credit: Theodore Wood

I'm off to London today to the Houses of Parliment for the launch of The Coronation Challenge CreaTech report: how the fusion of emerging technologies and the Creative Industries can transform the UK's approach to skills, innovation and business: https://lnkd.in/ermEWrgY Commissioned by Department for Culture, Media and Sport, this year-long research project focused on the intersection of creativity and technology, known as CreaTech, which is reshaping industries and presenting the UK with an unparalleled opportunity for economic growth, innovation, and global leadership. It was a pleasure to contribute to this important document alongside other 2023 Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education (formerly Queen's Anniversary Prizes) winners, guided by Erskine Analysis who led the research: Eliza Easton, George Windsor, Dr Allan Watson and Tom Webster. #CreaTech #HigherEducation #FurtherEducation #CreativeIndustries

How can the Government leverage the Industrial Strategy to unlock ￡18bn in growth for the creative industries? One of the biggest drivers of long-term productivity is technological innovation - and nowhere is this more evident than in CreaTech, where emerging tech meets creative practice. That’s why I’m excited to launch new research today, exploring how the fusion of creativity and technology is reshaping skills, innovation, and business in the UK. Commissioned by The Royal Anniversary Trust and Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and informed by fresh data analysis and insights from leaders in education (Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education winners), policy, and industry, this report reveals: ? CreaTech is already thriving – with 350,000 professionals and 14,000 businesses harnessing AI, VR, immersive storytelling, and more. ? It’s more than just games and software – from 3D printing revolutionising fashion sustainability to immersive tech redefining education and audience experiences. But this is just the beginning. To cement the UK’s global leadership, we suggest: ? A CreaTech skills revolution – integrating creativity and tech into education from an early age ? Increased public and private R&D investment to drive innovation ? A CreaTech Catapult to connect businesses, educators, and technologists ? A smarter funding ecosystem to help UK startups scale and succeed globally This isn’t just about economic growth—it’s about redefining industries, amplifying cultural impact, and securing the UK’s place as a global leader in creative technology. Analysis by George Windsor suggests these actions could drive up to ￡18 billion in additional GVA over the next decade: https://lnkd.in/eFey3qQ3 ?? Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e3iT2zvG ?? And my feature in Arts Professional: https://lnkd.in/eDyc2FBa Thank you to my amazing collaborators George Windsor Dr Allan Watson Tom Webster and of course the The Royal Anniversary Trust and Department for Culture, Media and Sport for commissioning this research. Moreover, thanks go to the amazing Prize Winners and our advisory board - who guided us every step of the way (although all mistakes are our own!)

It has been good to see our Scene Change research on business models in the performing arts being referenced in Parliament. With four major policy moments on the horizon for the creative industries, we're hopeful its recommendations will make a real impact. If you're engaging with UK policymakers, here are the three key political opportunities to support the future of the arts: ?? Spending Review (SR) – The UK government’s multi-year budget planning process, shaping funding priorities. Any external submissions to the Treasury must be in by this Sunday, with announcements expected on 11th June. Departments make their own submissions, and will be looking for ideas and evidence on a slightly longer timescale. ?? Industrial Strategy – The creative industries are a government priority, with a newly appointed Taskforce working on proposals. Some ?? should be tied to spending (and the SR), others will be focused on broader policy areas like skills, taxation etc. Publication will be in spring (but the Government's spring is often the lay person's summer...). ?? Independent Review of Arts Council England – Led by Baroness Margaret Hodge. Specific terms of reference are still to come, but this will be examining Art Council England's role in fostering excellence, accessibility, and participation in culture and creativity nationwide. For more key dates, check out this excellent Arts Professional piece: https://lnkd.in/eCddKECT

Yesterday, we published the findings from Scene Change, a major sector-wide study providing a ‘behind the curtain’ look at performing arts business models - how they operate, the value they deliver, and the challenges they face.??? ?? ??140 organisations were part of this research, and 92% of them said that undertaking business innovation was important to their organisation’s future. The report sets out seven practical recommendations - two led by the sector, two led by our partners and three led by policymakers -?that address their challenges and that will help our sector to create even more value. ? ??What better way to launch this report with a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring Doreen Foster (Director at Warwick Arts Centre), Dame Caroline Dinenage MP DBE (Chair of the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee), Amy Vaughan (one of the report authors and Executive Director & Deputy CEO of Battersea Arts Centre), Sir Damon Buffini (Chair of the NT Board),?and our very own Kate Varah (Executive Director and Co-CEO at the NT), discussing how we can create a more resilient and sustainable future for the performing arts.? ? ??Also, a big thank you to our two other report authors John Knell and Eliza Easton, the brilliant members of our advisory group and research network members, and to those 140 performing arts leaders who shared their data, experiences and ideas with us. ? ? ?? To find out more about the research, please visit: bit.ly/409DBo2 ?? Lucian Koncz / @capturedbylucian? #scenechangereport

Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy, has indicated that he would take soft power seriously should he be the next Foreign Secretary. But why does soft power matter in a world of hard power threats? My blog discusses the UK's soft power crisis and its repercussions. https://lnkd.in/dB_T8VXx

Are the UK's creative industries still internationally competitive? What is the state of UK soft power? Today marks the launch of my major commission with University of the Arts London which answers those questions and provides policies to turn things around, before it is too late. We found that creative businesses have been an afterthought in trade, migration and foreign policy, and that funding for the British Council and BBC World Service has dwindled, with disastrous consequences. Now, exports in many creative sub-sectors are down; fewer tourists are visiting our cultural organisations; fewer young people are engaging with our cultural exports. In short, the UK’s brand is diminishing. But it's not too late. I've pulled together an actionable policy playbook for the next Government to support what is still one of the UK's genuinely leading sectors (if you don't believe me check out the section which ranks us in both economic and soft power terms in every sub-sector). Thank you to UAL, and particularly James Purnell and Polly Mackenzie for supporting this much needed piece. Thank you to Professor David Mba, FREng PFHEA for his support before his departure. And thank you most of all to my amazing advisory board. Their wisdom and experience was what guided this paper and its recommendations, although all mistakes are my own! ? Dr. Joanna Abeyie MBE CC She/Her - Founder and Director, Blue Moon and Partners ? Jonathan Badyal - Director of Communications at Universal Music UK and Deputy Chair at the Black Country Living Museum ? Tracy Brabin - Mayor of West Yorkshire ? Baroness Bull - Cross Bench Peer, House of Lords ? Harriet Finney - Deputy Chief Executive of the British Film Institute (BFI) ? Jon Garvie - International policy expert ? Francesca Hegyi OBE - Chief Executive of the Edinburgh International Festival ? Suhair Khan - Creative leader and entrepreneur connecting culture and technology ? Polly Mackenzie - Chief Social Purpose Officer at UAL ? Neil Mendoza - Chair of Historic England, Provost of Oriel College and member of the House of Lords ? John Newbigin OBE - Ambassador for the creative industries for the Mayor of London and creative industries expert ? Rathna Ramanathan - Head of College, Central Saint Martins ? Gail Rebuck - Chair of Somerset House and member of House of Lords ? Caroline Rush - Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council and Chair of the Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board ? Christopher Smith - Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Creative Industries Champion for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) ? Kate Varah - Joint Chief Executive, National Theatre

***RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY*** The National Theatre (NT) is looking for an experienced research partner to deliver a major new research piece in collaboration with the NT, and with the wider performing arts sector. The research will look at the benefits of new approaches to traditional revenue streams, but also at other more novel revenue streams and partnerships, with the working title: “Shining a light on evolving business models in the performing arts: how varied investments support different financial and social outcomes.” The National Theatre will be a core case study for the research, but the research will look beyond the NT and engage with other organisations thinking innovatively in this area. This will be the first research piece commissioned under the National Theatre’s new research strategy. Each year, they plan to commission an agenda-setting piece of research. I have been working with them on the strategy, and will be on hand to support those bidding for the tender, and eventually the the winning research team (lucky them?) The deadline for tenders is 12 noon on 12 April 2024. PLEASE NOTE:?I know how frustrating it can be when you are working to a deadline, and an extension is announced late in the day. However, after careful consideration?the National Theatre has decided to extend the deadline for submissions for the recent tender by?one week - to 12 noon on Friday 19th of April.