The volunteers of Freelancers Make Theatre Work welcome the publication of the new Creative Industries Sector Plan by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This plan marks a significant moment in government recognition of the value and potential of the creative industries, and particularly the freelance workforce that powers so much of it.
Among the most notable developments is the announcement that a “Creative Freelance Champion” will be appointed to advocate for freelancers at the heart of government. This is something that many, including many within FMTW, have been calling for over the past five years. While we are pleased to see it finally acknowledged, important questions remain about the scope of the role, what powers it will carry, who will be appointed to the role, and how the freelance community will be involved in shaping it.
The plan also includes commitments to strengthen rights and protections for freelancers, including work on tackling late payments, ensuring contracts are issued, and improving health and safety support for the self-employed. These are longstanding concerns for freelancers, and if delivered well, these changes could make a meaningful difference to people’s working lives.
Investment is another major theme of the plan. Government pledges include £4 billion in new public funding through the British Business Bank and the ambition to unlock £31 billion of private investment into the creative industries by 2035. There is also a renewed focus on regional development and local creative clusters, which could offer much-needed support to freelancers working outside London.
In addition, initiatives around skills development and the introduction of new technical qualifications suggest a desire to strengthen the creative workforce. However, it remains to be seen how accessible these opportunities will be for freelancers, and how well they will reflect the needs of theatre and live performance, which often receive less attention in broader creative strategies.
The announcement also included a commitment to tackle bullying, harassment and discrimination, specifically through support for the newly-created Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA). FMTW have been closely involved in the initial stages of CIISA, and we’ll continue to keep a close eye on how it engages with the theatre industry in practice, and in particular its impact on freelancers.
Some organisations have already responded to the plan. BECTU wholeheartedly welcomed the announcement, describing the appointment of a freelance champion as “a crucial step forwards”. Creative UK also warmly welcomed the announcement, and emphasised the need for “genuine coordination across departments and agencies, and close partnership with regional and local leaders - such as combined authorities - to ensure that support reaches the full breadth of the sector.” The Writers' Guild of Great Britain described the announcement as “promising”, but warned that “serious questions remain around copyright and AI that will only be answered when the Government lays out its position following its recent consultation.”
As with many government strategies, the devil will be in the detail. Promises alone are not enough. What matters now is whether this new approach leads to structural change, genuine engagement with the freelance workforce, and long-term improvements to the working lives of those who sustain the creative industries.
Freelancers Make Theatre Work will continue to monitor the rollout of the plan, engage with government wherever possible, and work to ensure that freelance voices are not just heard but central to the conversation.
The volunteers at FMTW cautiously applaud the announcement from Lisa Nandy on the appointment of a freelance champion to advocate for freelancers in the arts. We hope that this means a more positive future for freelancers: that our voices become central to the wider debate, that a serious long-term investment will be made in our vital skills, and that we are recognised and celebrated as being absolutely essential to the making of all work in the Performing Arts.