Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget Statement yesterday, individuals and organisations from across the media and entertainment space have responded.
Adrian Wootton OBE, chief executive of the British Film Commission, said the organisation is “delighted by the government’s recognition of the importance of the Film and TV studios sector by retaining the vital business rates relief.
“We also look forward to engaging with the government’s wider business rates reform, to ensure the sector can continue to thrive and help drive growth throughout the whole of the country.”
Meanwhile, UK media and entertainment union Bectu warned the government had “once again largely overlooked self-employed and freelance workers.”
Philippa Childs, head of Bectu, added: “Low pay is a very real issue for many of the highly skilled workers who prop up our creative industries, so the minimum wage increases are welcome. As is the rise in the state pension, which will benefit many creative workers, not least those who are self-employed and so ineligible for auto-enrolment.”
However, Childs warned that these benefits may be “undercut” for the self-employed who will be impacted by the tax and benefit changes. “The same people, while paying more tax, continue to be denied basic rights like sick pay, parental leave and pensions and will miss out on the government’s flagship worker protections.”
“The government has exempted over-65s from the cash ISA changes—this should also be extended to the self-employed, many of whom rely on ISAs for retirement savings,” she added.
“Freelancers hold up the UK’s world leading creative industries—a £100 billion growth sector that is a priority of the industrial strategy. If the Budget is to be fair, it must extend genuine protections and support to the self-employed, levelling the playing field for those who power Britain’s cultural success.”
