UK’s creative industries ‘falling behind’ amid tech expansion, report claims

“Acute” skills shortages are being made worse by AI, with workers increasingly unprepared as the technology reshapes in-demand technical roles, the report continued.

It highlighted that the creative industries are one of the UK’s most qualified sectors, in which 68% of employees have a degree versus 22% economy-wide, but that workers are poorly prepared, and stand to be even more so amid rapid decline in those studying the arts in school.

To remedy these problems, the report suggested a shift away from “short-term tactical conversations, too often narrowly focused on government funding”.

Instead, it argued organisations should take steps including putting their work on global tech platforms to present it to wider audiences and “monetise their back catalogues”. BCG cited the success of  National Theatre at Home, which amassed more than 15 million views across 173 countries within four months of its launch.

“Be prepared for the rapid AI transformation,” the report’s executive summary continued, adding: “If creative content has clear market value and technology evolves to track and enforce what is used to train AI models, then a licensing market that follows a more traditional copyright and IP protection approach is likely to make the most sense.”

The remark adds to the growing chorus of opposition to the government’s plan to allow AI models to train easily on creatives’ work by default.

In addition, providing technical courses below degree level as well as at universities was proposed as a solution to the gaping digital skills gaps. University of Arts London’s professional diploma in technical and production practice for the creative industries was noted as a particularly effective route into employment.

Other recommendations included allowing cities and regions to levy tourist tax, with revenues directed into the creative sector.