Armando Iannucci, Joe Dempsie, Carol Vorderman, Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP join 35+ creative organisations at the Labour Party Conference
// Labour Party Conference
Armando Iannucci, Joe Dempsie, Carol Vorderman, Carole Cadwalladr, Nick Park, Nihal Arthanayake, Gary Neville, Angela Griffin, Max Klymenko, Kate Mosse, Angela Rippon, Joseph Roberts, Jack Pepper and more join 35+ creative organisations to advocate for creative industries at Labour Party Conference – with Lisa Nandy MP and Ian Murray MP joining programme
- Responsible AI use, funding models for sector, greater protections of freelancers, EDI as a driver for growth, and creative curriculum all on packed agenda
- Political contribution on every panel and roundtable – including contributions from Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP; Minister of State for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, Ian Murray MP; Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, Stephanie Peacock MP; the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin; Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin; Jo Platt MP; Samantha Niblett MP; Polly Billington MP; Dr Simon Opher MP and more
- Pavilion convened by Creative UK with the support of sponsors 5, YouTube, Channel 4 and Creative Alliance South West; plus presenting partners: AIP – Alliance for IP, Art Fund/National Museum Directors’ Council, Association of Photographers, Bath Spa University, Bectu, Big Creative Education, BPI (British Recorded Music), British Fashion Council, DACS – The Design and Artists Copyright Society, GuildHE, Heart of Glass, Into Film, Kingston University, Manchester Metropolitan University, The UK Association for Music Education – Music Mark, Music Venue Trust, National Theatre, New Writing North, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Premier League, Production Park, Publishers Association, Royal Ballet and Opera, Royal College of Art, Sadler’s Wells, ScreenSkills, Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI, Southbank Centre, Talawa Theatre Company, The Film and TV Charity, UKIE and University of the Arts London
Explore the full programme today at conference.wearecreative.uk
Live stream available for media not in attendance at conference. For access – and for interview requests / further information – please contact Rebecca Maxwell at rebecca.maxwell@wearecreative.uk
From Sunday 28 to Tuesday 30 September 2025, representatives from across the cultural and creative industries will come together at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool to showcase the transformative impact of creativity – and to tackle major policy issues for the sector, during Europe’s largest political conference.
Key policy points being explored through the programme include evolving IP frameworks and ethical licensing in the age of AI; the role of the creative industries in the Industrial Strategy; the importance of diversity as a driver for growth; the enhanced protections needed for freelancers, and why greater investment is needed in the creative curriculum.
In an extraordinary moment of collaboration, Creative UK – the national membership body for the cultural and creative industries – has convened more than 35 creative and cultural organisations, along with a range of celebrated artists and speakers, to showcase the might of the sector – and explore how creativity can offer the answers to some of the country’s social and economic challenges.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP, will deliver a speech on Sunday evening, as part of the event’s official media launch. Minister of State for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, Ian Murray MP, will also speak across a range of panels throughout the programme.
Located in Auditorium 1B in the ACC Liverpool, (which sits inside the conference secure zone), the Cultural and Creative Industries Pavilion will be home to three days of policy-led discussions and debates, alongside a range of performances and presentations. The activity comes just months after the publication of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, which identified the creative industries as a priority sector for economic growth. On the back of this, the Creative Industries Sector Plan was published in June.
Presenting partners in the Pavilion represent a wide range of creative sub-sectors, and include 5, AIP – Alliance for IP, Art Fund/National Museum Directors’ Council, Association of Photographers, Bath Spa University, Bectu, Big Creative Education, BPI (British Recorded Music), British Fashion Council, Creative Alliance South West, Channel 4, DACS – The Design and Artists Copyright Society, GuildHE, Heart of Glass, Into Film, Kingston University, Manchester Metropolitan University, The UK Association for Music Education – Music Mark, Music Venue Trust, National Theatre, New Writing North, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Premier League, Production Park, Publishers Association, Royal Ballet and Opera, Royal College of Art, Sadler’s Wells, ScreenSkills, Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI, Southbank Centre, Talawa Theatre Company, The Film and TV Charity, UKIE, University of the Arts London and YouTube.
Fireside Chats and Performances
The programme also contains an exclusive ‘Fireside Chat’ series, in which artists and creative stars speak to their own experiences of creativity.
As The Thick of It turns 20, renowned writer, director, producer and performer Armando Iannucci is joined by broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy to reflect on the power of storytelling, satire and imagination to shift political understanding – as well as the economic might of the UK’s creative industries. (Tuesday, 11:30am)
Actor Joe Dempsie will be joined by Alison Rashley, Executive Director of the Television Workshop, for a conversation on working class access and representation in the Creative Industries. (Tuesday, 6pm)
Broadcaster, media personality, and writer Carol Vorderman will be joined by author, investigative journalist, and features writer Carole Cadwalladr to discuss the power of independent journalism and explore how new media can drive change. (Monday, 2:30pm)
Alison Lomax, Managing Director of YouTube UK and Ireland will appear in conversation with former footballer and Overlap CEO Gary Neville and Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts Ian Murray MP – discussing the challenges faced by Creators in the UK today, and how business and government can work together to boost the UK’s Creator Economy. (Monday, 11:45am)
Award-winning novelist, non-fiction author, performer, activist and Founder Director of the Women’s Prizes, Kate Mosse CBE FRSL will be joined in a fireside chat by acclaimed broadcaster, presenter, musician and author Nihal Arthanayake. (Sunday, 2:30pm)
Four times Academy Award winning filmmaker Nick Park is joined by Aardman’s Managing Director, Sean Clarke, to discuss the making of the multi-award winning Wallace & Gromit. In this Fireside Chat, the pair will reflect on the value of creativity, the making of an iconic British brand, and the challenges facing creatives today – including IP protection in the age of AI. (Monday, 6pm)
Angela Griffin has worked in television, film, and theatre for over 30 years, with roles in Waterloo Road, Coronation Street, Lewis, Help and White Lines. In this Fireside Chat with Producer Cameron Roach, she will reflect on her own path to industry – and what more we can do to improve access for the next generation of creative talent. (Sunday, 5:30pm)
And broadcaster, writer and journalist Angela Rippon will host a discussion on the role culture and sport play on prevention, recovery, and community wellbeing (Monday, 1pm)
The Pavilion will be opened on Sunday 22 September by young musicians from Liverpool Philharmonic’s Youth Company, and a spoken word performance from local poet, Joseph Roberts. (From 7pm).
Policy
Through a series of roundtables and panels, a range of key policy issues will be explored, including:
- Content creator Max Klymenko will join a discussion about how creative freelancers and online creators face ongoing challenges such as unfair pay, financial precarity, lack of protections, and exclusion from industry decisions (Tuesday, 1pm).
- As AI transforms how work is made, shared, and monetised, creatives are navigating risks and opportunities. Addressing evolving IP frameworks, & ethical licensing, how can creators protect rights, sustain revenues, and shape safe AI use? (Tuesday, 3pm – 4:30pm)
- How education, training, skills development and mentorship connect to real industry needs (Monday, 4pm – 5:30pm)
- Reflections on the Industrial Strategy, and how the creative sector sparks progress across manufacturing, finance and beyond (Monday, 10:30am – 11:30am)
- How strategic diversification of income streams can unlock the sector’s full potential (Sunday, 3.45pm – 5:15pm);
- How inclusivity fuels innovation, opens new markets, and builds stronger organisations (Monday, 9:15 – 10:15am)
- The role culture and sport play on prevention, recovery, and community wellbeing (Monday, 1pm)
- Following the Westminster Creativity on the Edge report launch, Creative Alliance South West will explore how R&D and innovation intersects with creative placemaking, transforming regional identity (Tuesday, 9am).
- How the creative sector can continue to pioneer digital innovation and embrace digital tools – not to replace creativity, but to enhance it (Sunday, 1pm)
- From early years to higher education, reflections on how nurturing creativity supports individual growth, future leadership, and economic impact (Tuesday, 10.15am)
Piano Lates
After a long day of panels, presentations and policy discussions, conference-goers can relax and reflect, as they are invited to enjoy informal chats around the grand piano, as part of Piano Lates, sponsored by Channel 4, presenting as part of the Pavilion, and located inside the famous Pullman Bar.
Local pianist Max O’Hara will be performing across all three evenings.
As part of this activity, composer, broadcaster and writer Jack Pepper will perform live on the Monday evening.
Sponsors
The Cultural and Creative Industries Pavilion can only happen thanks to the support of our Sponsors and Presenting Partners.
Creative UK is pleased to announce that Sunday’s activity in the Pavilion is sponsored by 5.
Creative UK also warmly welcomes YouTube and Creative Alliance South West as session sponsors of the Pavilion.
Piano Lates are sponsored by Channel 4.
Commenting on the activity, Creative UK Chief Executive Caroline Norbury OBE said: “Earlier this year, in publishing its Industrial Strategy, the UK Government made a clear statement: the creative industries is a priority economic sector – and fundamental to underpinning the country’s growth. The Sector Plan laid out priorities for Labour to build on our potential. The job for leaders in the cultural and creative industries now, is to work together with government to purposefully execute and turn that plan into a reality.
“This activity at the Labour Party Conference is advocacy in action. It is truly inspiring that such a wide range of cultural organisations, industry leaders, tech giants and creative voices have come together in this unique way to share the same message: putting the cultural and creative industries at the heart of policy making is fundamental to economic growth and social prosperity . With political representation on every panel and roundtable, this is an extraordinary opportunity to make our collective voice heard.”
The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “The UK’s cultural and creative industries are one of our greatest success stories – rooted in our communities, powered by talent and full of potential. The Pavilion is a great showcase of the imagination and innovation that exists in every part of the UK.
“Through our Creative Industries Sector Plan, we will drive further growth across the country and the perspectives shared over this three-day programme will be invaluable. I am delighted to join colleagues from across the sector, to champion the UK as the best place in the world to create, to innovate and succeed.”
The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Minister of State for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, said: “Creative UK’s Pavilion at the Labour Party conference this year promises to be a festival of creativity, bringing together key voices and representatives from the length and breadth of the UK to discuss the future of this vitally important sector.
“The economic and cultural contribution of the creative industries cannot be overestimated, and that’s why the Labour government has made them one of the eight high-growth sectors which are the focus of the new Industrial Strategy. The Creative Industries Sector Plan will drive innovation, support a skilled workforce and make the UK the number one destination for investment in creativity.
This will support growth and good jobs right across the country, boosting living standards and delivering on this government’s Plan for Change.
“I look forward to being part of Creative UK’s programme of events at conference and engaging with a diverse range of creative industries organisations, large and small, traditional and new, to make sure the creative industries will thrive for years to come.”
Notes to Editors
About Creative UK:
Creative UK is the national membership body for the Cultural and Creative Industries. We exist to champion creativity in its widest form – representing world-leading organisations from sectors as diverse as advertising, animation, architecture, broadcasting, crafts, design, digital, education, fashion, games, heritage, museums, music, performing arts, photography, publishing, theatre, TV, visual art and more.
We are an independent not-for-profit, which uses the insight and experience of our members, partners and the businesses we work with to help shape relevant government policy and advocate for meaningful social and economic change right across the UK.
Our vision is a world where creativity is valued and recognised as the driving force for our future. We’re so passionate about this that we put our money where our mouth is: through own landmark investment funds, we’ve directly invested millions of pounds into creative businesses over the last decade.
Our team is based across the UK, and we work closely with Local and Combined Authorities to support creative talent, whilst delivering hands-on support – spanning business diagnostics, mentoring and investment readiness.
Our Filming in England service is a dedicated and bespoke production service to feature film and high-end TV productions looking to film in England, outside of London.
About 5:
5 is the home of award-winning content from the UK’s third largest commercial PSB, a culmination of the creative transformation of Channel 5 over more than a decade. 5 is part of the Paramount Global family of brands.
Through a mix of live TV channels and bingeable boxsets, the free-to-air service allows UK audiences to watch or stream the breadth of programming from Channel 5 – including Milkshake!, its dedicated preschool brand – and a wide selection from the wider Paramount family of brands, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV Entertainment Studios, the opportunity to sample some of the biggest hits from Paramount+ and more.
In keeping with its PSB remit, 5 tells the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the UK, featuring well-known faces and fresh new talent. Its programme roster spans original UK drama, premium factual, true crime, science, news & current affairs and kids’ content, which continue to attract critical acclaim.
Recent wins include BAFTA Television and RTS Awards for the documentary White Nanny, Black Child in 2024, along with a BAFTA nomination for Endurance Race to the Pole. Factual hit The Yorkshire Vet and the broadcaster’s series on air fryers also won RTS Yorkshire awards, while Michael Palin received the Radio Times Special Judges Award for his Channel 5 documentaries.
About YouTube:
Launched in May 2005, YouTube’s mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the world. We believe that everyone deserves to have a voice, and that the world is a better place when we listen, share and build community through our stories. YouTube is a Google company. Find out more at www.youtube.com.
About Sponsors and Presenting Partners at the Cultural and Creative Industries Pavilion
Find details of all sponsors and presenting partners at https://conference.wearecreative.uk/partners
SUNDAY PIANO LATES SPONSOR
The Cultural and Creative Industries Pavilion has been made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors: 5, YouTube, Creative Alliance South West and Channel 4; and our presenting partners: AIP – Alliance for IP, Art Fund/National Museum Directors’ Council, Association of Photographers, Bath Spa University, Bectu, Big Creative Education, BPI (British Recorded Music), British Fashion Council, DACS – The Design and Artists Copyright Society, GuildHE, Heart of Glass, Into Film, Kingston University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Music Mark, Music Venue Trust, National Theatre, New Writing North, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Premier League, Production Park, Publishers Association, Royal Ballet and Opera, Royal College of Art, Sadler’s Wells, ScreenSkills, Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI, Southbank Centre, Talawa Theatre Company, The Film and TV Charity, UKIE, University of the Arts London.
