Creative industries to contribute to UK government’s post-Brexit immigration plan

The Migration Advisory Committee has launched an open consultation for businesses and organisations to advise on how the UK’s immigration system could be structured after leaving the European Union.

Design bodies and organisations including the Design Business Association (DBA) and the Creative Industries Federation have been asked to provide input into how the UK’s post-Brexit immigration system could look.

The Government has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) – a non-departmental, public body that advises the government on migration issues – to look at the potential social and economic impact following the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU).

The committee will also advise on how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with the country’s current industrial strategy.

Design organisations are being asked to provide feedback on a number of issues, including; migration trends in the European Economic Area (EEA), which encompasses EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; recruitment practices; training and skills; and economic, social and fiscal impacts.

Questions that feature within the call for evidence include what the skill level and characteristics of employed EEA migrants is and how they differ from non-EEA workers, what impact a reduction of EEA migration would have on specific sectors or local areas, and what methods of recruitment businesses use to employ EEA migrants.

The committee is also asking about the economic, social and fiscal costs and benefits of EEA migration to the UK economy, and to what extent EEA and non-EEA migration has affected the skills and training of UK workers.

DBA and Creative Industries Federation

The DBA has been working with The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the All Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group (APDIG) over the past year regarding issues related to the impact of Brexit on the design industry. It has also been consulting its members over the past four weeks on how EU migration impacts their businesses.

DBA CEO Deborah Dawton, says: “We need assurances that a tough immigration policy and the current education policy – which sidelines creativity – won’t bring about a drought in candidates entering the UK design industry, or starting new businesses in two years’ time.”

“This would put the brakes on growth in the sector that is the fastest growing and biggest contributor to gross domestic product (GDP) in the UK. Ours is a people business. The bottom line is you need great people to grow it and they have to come from somewhere,” Dawton adds.

Commenting on the open consultation, the Creative Industries Federation says: “The international nature of the creative industries means it is essential a post-Brexit visa system that works for the sector is established. The Federation is currently investigating what this should look like in order to ensure the creative industries remain the fastest growing sector of the UK economy.”

“Our findings, which we will be reporting on in the autumn, will be reflected in our contribution to the MAC call for evidence,” it adds.

Organisations and individuals are being asked to email their responses to mac@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk by 27 October 2017. The Government says anyone with “relevant knowledge, expertise or experience” can applying, including businesses, employers, recruiters, trade unions, academics, think tanks. For more information, visit the gov.uk site.

Hide Comments (1)Show Comments (1)
Comments
  • James Souttar August 8, 2017 at 9:37 pm

    “Dunno, mate – we’re off to Berlin!”

    I just find it hugely amusing that the Government imagines Britain’s over-priced and over-there capital is going to be able to hang on to its creative crown post Brexit. The fact that European financial centres are already openly bidding for the City of London’s beleaguered banking business looks set to point the way for what happens here too. Unfortunately this immigration thing works both ways: if UK creative businesses can swing work permits for the EU nationals they depend upon, Europe can do the same to lure those same businesses away from these shores. Besides which, the Europeans will have the advantage of a strong currency, low rents, a big tariffless market (and trade deals across the world), and in many cases blue skies as well. It’s going to be bloody, this.

  • Post a comment

Latest articles