(Originally published in The Telegraph on 13/12/21)
Together with Creative UK, University Alliance published a letter in the Telegraph, urging government to enact a fair value assessment of creative courses in Higher Education, before making any funding decisions. The letter was signed by over 90 people, significant individuals from the worlds of music, government, business, education and more. See the full letter and list of signatories below:
As government prepares to announce its plans for post 18 education funding, it is crucial that Ministers do not limit access to skills essential to the UK’s economic success.
We fully endorse the government’s drive to deliver high quality provision and strong value for students and tax-payers in higher education. Robust value assessment of all disciplines, including creative, is therefore vital before any funding decisions are made. Proceeding without a fair assessment risks significantly disadvantaging the next generation of essential creative workers.
Economic modelling commissioned by Creative UK revealed that our creative industries alone have the potential to create 300,000 new jobs and generate an extra £28bn for the UK economy by 2025. Creative roles now make up a significant proportion of the government’s Shortage Occupation List and the demand for creative skills across all industries is acute.
Creative education is therefore essential not only to sustain and grow the talent pipeline for our world-leading creative industries, but also to furnish the future workforce with high-level skills needed by businesses in every sector, and to support UK growth and innovation.
Government has an opportunity to locate a bigger creative economy at the heart of efforts to build back better and realise the vision for Global Britain. We look forward to working in partnership to achieve these goals.
Signed by
Deborah Annetts CEO, Incorporated Society of Musicians
Lord David Blunkett Former Education Secretary
Lord Paul Boateng Former British High Commissioner to South Africa
and Chancellor of University of Greenwich
Sandra Booth Director, Policy and External Relations, CHEAD
Belinda Budge Designer/Maker BudgeBudge
Baroness Deborah Bull Dancer, writer, and broadcaster
Dr Ben Calvert Vice Chancellor, University of South Wales
Margaret Casely-Hayford Chair, Shakespeare’s Globe; Chancellor Coventry University
Phil Castang Chair, Music Education Council
Dr Maria Balshaw CBE Director, Tate; Chair, National Museums Directors’ Council
Dinah Caine CBE Chair of Council, Goldsmiths
Jude Kelly CBE Founder, Women of the World
Ian Livingstone CBE Chair, Sumo Group
Nicola Mendelsohn CBE VP Global Business Group, Meta
Tamara Rojo CBE Artistic Director and Lead Principal Dancer, English National Ballet
Caroline Rush CBE CEO, British Fashion Council
Russ Shaw CBE Founder, Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates
Olivia Chatten Master of the Guild of Media Arts, York
Hannah Chukwu Editor, Penguin Random House UK
Tamara Cincik Founder & CEO, Fashion Roundtable
Jamie Coleman Founder, Codebase
Dr Mya-Rose Craig Founder and President, Black2Nature
Professor Paul Croney Vice Chancellor, Teesside University
Julian David CEO, techUK
John Dickie CEO, London First
Pardeep Duggal Digital Transformation Leader
Matthew Fell Director of Policy, CBI
Craig Fenton Author (signed in a personal capacity)
Professor Alistair Fitt Vice Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University
Catharine Des Forges Director, Independent Cinema Office
Lizzie Glithero-West FSA Chief Executive, The Heritage Alliance
David Gilmour Musician and songwriter (Pink Floyd)
Fiona Goh Director, British Arts Festivals Association
Professor Paul Gough Vice Chancellor, Arts University Bournemouth; Chair UKADIA
Jefferson Hack CEO and Co-Founder, Dazed Media
Professor Jane Harrington Vice Chancellor, University of Greenwich
Andy Harrower CEO, Directors UK
Neil Hatton CEO, UK Screen Alliance
Rick Haythornthwaite Chair, Ocado; Chair, The AA; Chair, Creative UK
Rachel Hewitt Chief Executive, MillionPlus
David Heyman Film Producer (Harry Potter Series; Gravity; Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
Professor Debra Humphris Chair of University Alliance, Vice Chancellor of University of Brighton
Marie-Claire Isaaman CEO, Women in Games
Peter James No.1 Bestselling author
Alistair Jarvis CEO, Universities UK
Jo Johnson Chair, Access Creative College
Professor John Latham Vice Chancellor, Coventry University
Stephen Lotinga CEO, Publishers Association
Adam Mansell CEO, UK Fashion & Textile Association
Janet Markwick Markwick Consulting
David Martin CEO, Featured Artists Coalition
Paul Appleby MBE Adviser, Bristol Creative Industries
Terry Croft MBE Chair and CEO, Institute of Science and Technology
Andrew Hurst MBE CEO, One Dance UK
Millie Kendall MBE CEO, British Beauty Council
Caroline Norbury MBE CEO, Creative UK
Professor Quintin McKellar Vice Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire
Gordon McKenzie CEO, GuildHE
Minnie Moll CEO, Design Council
Dr Rhys Morgan Director of Engineering and Education, Royal Academy of Engineering
Dame Margaret Hodge MP Former Universities Minister and former Chair, PAC
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin CEO, UK Music
Professor Frances Corner OBE Warden, Goldsmiths, University of London
Rosy Greenlees OBE Executive Director, Crafts Council
Andy Payne OBE Chair, British Esports Association
Dr Jo Twist OBE CEO, Ukie
Kate O’Connor Executive Chair, Animation UK
Paula Orrell, Director, Contemporary Visual Arts Network England
Ellie Peers General Secretary, Writers Guild of Great Britain
Dave Penrith Director, Capital Engineering Limited
Danny Perkins Founder, Elysian Film Group
Carl Peter-Forster Chairman Chemring Plc, NED Babcock Plc
Professor Philip Plowden Vice Chancellor, Birmingham City University
Suzi Quattro Singer/Songwriter
Neil Rami CEO, West Midlands Growth Company
Lindsey Rendall President, British Institute of Interior Design
Mykaell Riley Music producer & academic
Jeremy Silver CEO, Digital Catapult
Skin Musician (Skunk Anansie)
Professor Peter Slee Vice Chancellor, Leeds Beckett University
Edward Snape Chair, League of Independent Producers
Andrea Stark Former Director of Employment, Skills and Culture, Islington Council
Chloe Straw Managing Director, Audio UK
Geoff Taylor CEO, BPI, BRIT Awards and Mercury Prize
Dr Paul Thompson Vice Chancellor, Royal College of Art
Mandy Ure Dean, Kingston School of Art
Fabian Wagner Cinematographer
Professor Andrew Wathey Vice Chancellor and CEO, Northumbria University
Professor Roderick Watkins Vice Chancellor, Anglia Ruskin University
Professor Steve West Vice Chancellor of UWE Bristol
Stephen Woodford CEO, Advertising Association
Rt Hon Baroness Estelle
Morris of Yardley Former Education Secretary
