Unlocking Growth Through Accountability

We commissioned this landmark report looking into the cost of workplace conflict within the UK’s creative industries because, quite simply, before now this insight did not exist. Empowering and safeguarding the workforce is the bedrock of any credible growth strategy and this is a pivotal moment in which to take stock of every opportunity which can help drive this. Positive workplace culture is economic infrastructure that supports growth.

Despite being one of the most celebrated aspects of British socio-economic power, our creative industries are plagued by underreported workplace conflict, especially among freelancers and self-employed workers. Hidden within this are countless harrowing personal experiences of incredible people in our creative industries who strive to bring unique talent, foster the development of intellectual property and drive innovation. Alongside this, what has also been invisible thus far is the significant collective economic impact of unsafe working environments – and the potential for further growth which could be realised through cultural reform and accountability.

This report sets out key findings of new independent economic modelling and analysis, drawing on insights from former UK Government specialists as well as expertise from across the UK’s cultural and creative industries. It finds that there is clear opportunity, with the potential for up to 1.4% additional output from the UK’s creative industries annually yet to be realised. Without proactive intervention in workplace conflict, the current annual cost of £1.8bn of lost value will continue to result in a 5% average reduction in productivity for each of the 700,000 creative industry professionals who are affected by workplace conflict.

There is irreversible public concern regarding the prevalence of harm within the UK’s creative industries – and we are rising to this leadership challenge of collectively making positive change. Although many organisations are making improvements to working practices, the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) was established specifically to accelerate and strengthen effective interventions as well as address significant gaps in preventing and proactively tackling these important issues. Our role in setting and embedding standards and providing a safe confidential independent place to seek advice and report behaviours of concern, as well as provide mediation, dispute resolution and arbitration, are essential enabling infrastructure to ensure that our talented workforce are safe.

Working together, we can unlock the full potential of our deeply cherished and internationally admired creative industries – key to this is safe, positive working environments where creativity can do what it does best – innovate, transform lives, be an economic powerhouse and continuously redefine our place in the world.