Representing you in responses to Government and industry

As the Government pushes forward with its agenda to kickstart economic growth, we’re making sure we are feeding in the experiences and needs of our members.  

In November, Directors UK submitted a written response to the Government’s consultation on its industrial strategy green paper “Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy”, which confirmed the creative industries as one of eight priority sectors and an important “growth driver”.  

As part of that process, we attended screen sector task force meetings led by the BFI, where we discussed common issues that could be put to the Government, including the importance of supporting the freelance workforce, protecting and retaining intellectual property, and ensuring we have a healthy domestic production sector. The CRA (Creators Rights Alliance), BCC (British Copyright Council), BSF (British Screen Forum) and Creative UK also responded to the strategy, and as members of these collectives we’re able to ensure directors’ perspectives are also presented directly to the Government through these organisations too.  

Last week, CISAC published its report on AI’s impact on creators. We have shared these findings with our contacts in the trade press and in Westminster, including Chris Bryant MP, Feryal Clark MP and members of the House of Lords.   

November also saw the Government respond to the recommendations of the CMS Creator Remuneration Report, published earlier this year. The CMS report drew upon evidence provided by our Chief Executive Andy Harrower, among others. Read our coverage of the Government’s response.  

Representing you in the room

This week, we took part in the first meeting of the Good Work Review Self-Employed Creators Working Group, coordinated by DCMS, to gather organisations representing self-employed workers in the creative industries. The group will be discussing how the Government can better support the self-employed as part of their “Plan to Make Work Pay”, and exploring the proposal of a Freelancer Commissioner, as recommended in the Creator Remuneration Report.  

We also recently attended the All Party Writers’ Group winter reception and were able to speak with Caroline Dinenage MP – Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee – about the return of the British film and high-end TV inquiry, the impact of AI, and other topics concerning our members. We also attended the CRA AGM, where we were updated on their meetings with policy makers around important issues relating to creators’ copyright.    

We were in the room with Caroline Dinenage once again at the British Screen Forum Conference in November. The conference allowed us to meet with senior industry leaders and gain intelligence on their outlook for the sector.  Meanwhile AI and copyright continues to be a focus of discussion in forums and groups across the sector in anticipation of the Government’s imminent consultation on this.    

2025 is shaping up to be another busy year, where we will continue to represent and protect the needs and interests of directors across all the ongoing discussions that impact the working lives of creative freelancers.