The Creative Industries of which design plays such a significant role, transcending and playing a key role in each sector, is one of eight sectors within a newly announced ten-year Industrial Strategy which will offer the highest growth opportunity for the economy and business.

The Business Secretary and Chancellor announced steps to deliver long-term growth through a modern Industrial Strategy, including appointing a Chair of the new Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, Clare Barclay of Microsoft and all are invited to respond to a consultation to steer the newly appointed Chair of the Strategy Advisory Council.

The Green Paper can be found on UK GOV site. Businesses will have until 24 November to respond.

The Industrial Strategy will create a pro-business environment and play to the UK’s strengths, focusing on eight growth driving sectors including creative industries and financial services. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds pledges an end to instability “our modern Industrial Strategy will hardwire stability for investors and give industry the confidence to plan for the next 10 years and beyond”.

Clare Barclay, CEO of Microsoft UK, will chair government’s new Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, which will provide expert advice developed in partnership with business, unions, and stakeholders from across the UK.

Announcements came ahead of International Investment Summit which brought together business leaders from around the globe to boost investment and growth. 

Government is also asking for business to help shape the industrial strategy with a green paper to develop the plans in partnership.

The key sectors the government will focus its modern Industrial Strategy are on advanced manufacturing; clean energy industries, creative industries; defence; digital and technologies; financial services; life sciences; and professional and business services. 

The green paper, which was published on the day of the International Investment Summit, brought together UK leaders, high-profile investors and businesses from across the world. There, Reynolds is expected to tell delegates the Industrial Strategy will put Britain back on the global stage and help attract investment into the most productive parts of the UK economy.  

Dids Macdonald OBE., Chair and Co-Founder of ACID said, “The Government’s determination to deliver on Britain’s potential is good news for the design sector which has seen significant 73% growth in the last decade. But care must be taken whilst promoting and Large Language Business models driven by Artificial Intelligence and the human element underpinned by intellectual property have a fair, balanced and accountable framework in which both big tech and the creative industries can co-habit without conflict”.   

In the King’s speech the Government committed to putting the Council on a statutory footing – giving it powers and responsibilities and ensuring it will be permanent and independent.  

Ahead of establishing a statutory body, they are introducing an interim advisory Council. The first Council meeting and announcement of full membership is expected in the coming weeks.   

Microsoft UK CEO Clare Barclay said: 

As Chair of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, I will ensure the Council provides a clear and strong voice on behalf of business, nations, regions, and trade unions, as we invest for the future to ensure that our prosperity is underpinned by robust growth in key sectors right across the country. 

Whilst we fully embrace the industries of today, we must also have a clear plan for future growth, and the Advisory Council will play a central role in shaping and delivering this plan.

The government has also identified eight growth-driving sectors for the Industrial Strategy, focusing on sectors the UK excels in today and will excel tomorrow.  

Over the last 25 years, the top 30% of sectors ranked by productivity in 1997 were responsible for generating roughly 60% of the economy’s entire productivity growth. That’s why our Industrial Strategy will channel support to sectors and geographical clusters that have the highest growth potential for the next decade. 

Our strategy will create a pro-business environment to capture a greater share of internationally mobile investment in strategic sectors and motivate domestic business to boost their investment and scale up their growth. 

Businesses up and down the country will also be invited to respond to the Industrial Strategy Green Paper, which will be published tomorrow.  

The consultation will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to inform the Strategy’s continued development and ensure it delivers tangible impact to people and communities right across the UK.  

Views are sought from business, international investors, unions and any other interested parties, on the overall vision, approach to growth sectors and the policy levers needed to drive investment.   

• More information on sectors and productivity can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/economicoutputandproductivity/productivitymeasures/datasets/outputperhourworkeduk 
• The Green Paper can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/invest-2035-the-uks-modern-industrial-strategy . Businesses will have until 24 November to respond.  
• Clare Barclay biography: Clare is Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft UK. She leads the strategy and delivery of Microsoft’s business in the UK, focused on helping organisations accelerate technology-driven growth. She is a thought leader and regular keynote speaker on how technology and AI presents a transformational opportunity to fuel UK economic growth. Clare engages at board level across industry sectors on how best to capitalise on the opportunity in harnessing the potential of AI. With nearly three decades in the technology industry, Clare has held a range of senior leadership roles with experience across all aspects of the business including partnerships to unlock opportunity across industries and empowering small and medium businesses, the beating heart of the UK economy, to prosper. In her prior role as Chief Operating Officer, she was also responsible for driving significant transformational change for Microsoft and in helping reshape its culture. Clare is passionate about the UK as a talent hub and the potential for UK industry to lead on the world stage, leveraging the latest scientific and technological advances. She is also deeply committed to diversity and inclusion and in helping young people succeed. She lives in London with her husband and two sons.  
• The Summit will be sponsored by Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, M&G plc, Octopus Energy, and TSL.