UK Content Creators Call for Formal Recognition from Government Amid Unmet Needs

UK Content Creators Demand Formal Recognition from Government

In an unprecedented move, the UK's content creators, including YouTubers, TikTok creators, and Instagram influencers, have collectively called on the government for formal recognition. A recent survey by YouTube and Public First reveals that over 10,000 creators feel underappreciated by the authorities, despite contributing over £2bn to the UK economy annually.

Max Klymenko, a content creator with over 10 million subscribers, echoes this sentiment. "If you look at the viewership, our channel is not too different from a big media company," he said. "If you look at the relevancy, especially among young audiences, I will say that we are more relevant. That said, we don't really get the same treatment."

The survey found that 56% of creators surveyed feel they do not have a "voice in shaping government policies" that affect them. Only 7% think they receive enough support to access finance, while just 17% believe there is enough training and skills development in the UK.

Ben Woods, a creator economy analyst, supports the creators' call for recognition. "The UK has got a fantastic history of supporting the creative industries," he said. "But perhaps the government needs to broaden that lens a little bit to look at just what's going on within the creator economy as well, because it is highly valuable, it's where younger audiences are spending a lot of their time, and [the UK] is really good at it."

Formal recognition, according to YouTube, would involve creators being factored into official economic impact data reporting, represented on government creative bodies, and receiving creator-specific guidance from HMRC on taxes and finances. This recognition could help address issues creators face, such as difficulty in securing loans and mortgages.

David Brown, a podcaster who owns a recording studio for creators, shared his experiences. "It's really difficult as a freelancer to get things like mortgages and bank accounts and credit and those types of things," he said. "A lot of people make very good money doing it. They're very well supported. They have a lot of cash flow, and they are successful at doing that job. It's just the way society and banking and everything is set up. It makes it really difficult."

The creative industries minister, Sir Chris Bryant, acknowledges the integral role creators play in the UK's creative industries and has pledged to appoint a creative freelance champion and increase support from the British Business Bank to "help creators thrive and drive even more growth in the sector."

The government has already committed to boosting the UK's creative industries, with plans to make the UK the number one destination for creative investment and a promise of an extra £14bn to the sector by 2035. These influencers aim to ensure they are recognized as part of this growth.