North East Music Leader Named On Influential Government Creative Council

Generator CEO will sit among leading figures from film, TV, design and other creative sectors to champion regional music industry.

The leader of a North East headquartered music development organisation has been named on an influential Government-led body charged with developing the UK’s creative industries.

Mick Ross, CEO of Generator, is among a tiny handful of leaders from UK-wide cultural institutions, trade bodies, creative businesses, regional leaders and representatives, representing sectors and subsectors, such as film & TV, music and design, whose role is to bring together The Sector Plan’s themes of innovation, finance, skills and trade.

Established in 2011, the Creative Industries Council (CIC), which sits within the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) serves as a strategic forum for collaboration between industry leaders and government. It provides a unified platform for senior figures across the creative sectors to engage directly with ministers, ensuring a coordinated voice on key issues.

Joining Mick on the new council is a raft of esteemed names, which include the likes of Alison Lomax, managing director of YouTube UK & Ireland, Laura Weir, CEO of the British Fashion Council, Ben Roberts, CEO of the British Film Institute and Sinead Rocks, chief executive of nations and regions for Channel4.

Mick said: “Naturally, it’s a great honour to be invited to join the Council. I sit alongside stellar names from a wide range of creative sectors, all of whom contribute wonderfully to the UK economy. I’ve spoken in depth for some time about the need for the North East, particularly for its flourishing music industry, to be heard in central corridors of power.

“For too long, we’ve been trying to shout from the outside in. Having a seat at the table means we can more confidently represent the outstanding work going on right across the North East, and right the way across the North, which is now attracting not just national, but global attention.”

The CIC is co-chaired by Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy. She said: “The Creative Industries Council is vital to ensuring that we are effectively understanding and addressing the needs of the sector. Our ambition is that every corner of this country will flourish, cementing the UK’s position as a creative superpower.
“We are committed to delivering the Creative Industries Sector Plan, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change, and the remodelled CIC will continue to play a critical role in that.”

Fellow co-chair is celebrated TV producer, Peter Bazalgette. He said: “Our renewed Council, with refreshed representation from across our sub-sectors, regions and Nations, will drive forward the clear growth plan set out in the Government’s Industrial Strategy. And we’ll have lots of new ideas too… we are the creative sector!”

In the Creative Industries Sector Plan, published as part of the Industrial Strategy, the Government committed to reshaping the council, as part of the Government’s plan to strengthen its relationship with businesses. The Sector Plan outlines a vision to increase business investment in creative organisations from £17 billion to £31 billion by 2035 and help creative businesses grow and create jobs.

The creative industries are rapidly changing and growing, and the new council format seeks to be more representative of the sectors as they are now, while strengthening the partnership it has with industry. This includes prioritising regional representation and addressing the concerns and challenges of the sector within the UK as well as growing exports as the third largest creative services exporter in the world.

The Department for Business and Trade has also appointed the new Creative Industries Trade & Investment Board (CITIB) chairs, Michael Frohlich, CMO at WPP, and Francesca Hegyi OBE, Chief Executive of Edinburgh International Festival. They will work together to facilitate collaboration between the public and private sectors and ensure the creative industries contribute effectively to the UK economy.

Minister for Trade Policy, Chris Bryant said: “Our creative industries are world-leading, and we’re championing them as a cornerstone of growth in our modern Industrial Strategy.

“A revamped Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board will help strengthen our international trading relationships, boost exports and attract inward investment to grow our economy. Congratulations to Francesca and Michael on becoming our new Co-Chairs – their experience and passion will be invaluable.”

Working group leads will sit on a core steering group who will strategically drive the CIC’s progress, prioritise practical action and help to shape the sector-wide narrative.