Brexit speech prompts fears for mobility of creative workers

A new immigration system that continues to welcome the “brightest and best” workers to the UK may be difficult to implement in the creative industries, where talent is not always commensurate with salary, according to John Kampfner, Chief Executive of the Creative Industries Federation (CIF).

In a statement following Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit speech on Tuesday, in which she rejected the idea that Britain would remain part of the European Single Market, he welcomed her vision of a global Britain but pointed to issues that will need to be addressed if the UK’s arts and creative industries “are to continue to fulfil their potential”.

The creative industries are the fastest growing sector of the UK economy and are recognised by the Government as contributing to the country’s ‘soft power’. According to Kampfner, their potential for creating jobs and fuelling further growth mean that the creative industries should be central to negotiations and “mentioned as frequently and readily as science and tech”.

Post-referendum research found that movement of talent in the creative industries would be a critical component in the future expansion and success of the sector. The CIF welcomed the Prime Minister’s recognition of an urgent need for a reciprocal arrangement for EU nationals currently working in the UK, and UK nationals currently employed in the EU, but warned that the status of freelances, who are key to many parts of the sector, will also need to be addressed.

Concerned about the loss of European research and cultural programmes that currently benefit the UK, Kampfner also proposed a discussion with government on potentially paying to be able to continue to participate in some of them.

Kampfner continued: “We understand the logic of the decision of a government that prioritises controlling borders above all else to leave the single market. But it does make a sector-by-sector approach to trade particularly critical.

“The trade negotiations with the EU will need to include consideration of the digital single market, free flow of data and issues of tariff and non-tariff barriers if the creative industries are to continue to prosper.”