Our policy priorities
We are uniquely positioned to:
- shape the practice of industry leaders of the future
- share specialist knowledge for a thriving, sustainable creative industries
- contribute to policymaking that maximises the value of creativity to society.
For further information, contact Javneet Ghuman, Associate Director - Policy and Advocacy: j.ghuman@arts.ac.uk
Creative education
We believe that the world needs creativity – and that starts with creative education.
An education system that values creativity as much as it does science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and humanities is key to securing the talent pipeline to the UK’s world leading creative industries, to training up the workforce of the future, and ensuring that everyone can access the joy and the opportunities that come from creativity, whatever their background.
We are calling on the next Government to:
- create a primary, secondary and tertiary education system that values STEM, the arts and humanities in equal measure and enables and embraces interdisciplinary study and research
- commit to the value of the creative education pipeline, especially creative higher education, including a more holistic way of measuring the value of higher education.
Fashion and textiles
The UK’s world-leading fashion and textiles sector is an innovative, influential, and hugely valuable asset – culturally, socially, and economically. The industry is a powerful force for prosperity and international competitivity, and its creative prowess and ability to challenge the status quo are globally unparalleled. Yet its current practices are an existential threat to its own future, and right now UK government policy allows the industry to retain its licence to do harm.
To benefit from a thriving fashion and textiles industry, we need government policy that ends fashion’s legacy of extraction and exploitation whilst ushering in a new era of equitable and regenerative business models.
We are calling on the next Government to:
- acknowledge the fashion and textiles industry as a driver of prosperity and innovation
- include the sector in future industrial, manufacturing and skills strategies
- bring in industry regulation to end fashion’s extractive and exploitative practices
- incentivise the transition towards equitable and regenerative business models.
Good work agenda
Our thriving, world-renowned creative industries – which span film, fashion, music, gaming, design, performance, visual arts and many more – play such a big role in the UK’s joy, wellbeing, economy, and cultural gravitas.
Yet the creative industries are too often precarious and challenging places to work: the sector is rife with exploitation and abuse, from the normalisation of unpaid internships and ‘working for exposure’ to unethical recruitment practices and poor treatment of freelancers.
The creative industries create jobs at 3 times the national average, but those jobs should be fair and equitable – which is why we need the next Government to pursue a good work agenda within the creative industries.
We are calling on the next Government to:
- pursue a ‘good work’ agenda within the creative industries by paying living wage, banning unpaid work, and taking action to protect freelancers
- strengthen existing legislation to end exploitation and modern slavery.
Higher education funding
Universities are a vital asset to the UK and to the world:
- providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a changing world
- undertaking cutting-edge research to tackle some of societies’ greatest challenges
- working closely with communities to address local issues. Yet the current system is under strain and in need of reform.
Universities are facing deficits in teaching and research funding, and the changes the government has recently made to the student loan system has made repayments more regressive and less fair for students. To ensure that our students and sector are able to thrive, we need a sustainable and fair funding system.
We are calling on the next Government to:
- reform the student loan repayment system so that it is fairer and more progressive for students
- ensure the higher education sector is supported by a sustainable funding system which provides universities with stability and the ability to plan over longer time periods
- introduce capital funding to support universities with Net Zero targets.
Cost of living and maintenance support
Higher education can be a transformative experience for students and all students must have access to the support they need to succeed in their education.
However, high levels of inflation and increasing cost of living pressures mean the maintenance support that students are currently receiving is not adequate, and in many cases, falls far short of covering essential costs.
The level and types of maintenance support available to students needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency, to ensure that all students – whatever their background – are able to thrive.
We are calling on the next Government to:
- uprate maintenance loans in line with inflation
- re-instate means-tested maintenance grants
- ensure that any changes to the student finance package are accompanied by comprehensive information, advice and guidance for pupils.
Download the Cost of living and maintenance support paper (PDF 165KB).
Creative superpower
The creative industries in the UK are not only a powerful driver of economic growth but also bring meaning and joy to millions each year. What’s more, we cannot address the significant challenges we face without their contribution. As a nation, we need to encourage innovation, dynamism, and transformation—all of which require creativity. And by pairing that creativity with science and technology we can meet the challenges we face head on and lead the way as a creative superpower
We are calling on the next Government to:
- put in place policies that ensure the UK maintains and secures its position as a creative superpower such as the introduction of a Soft Power Council and the creation of a new Soft Power Unit sitting at the heart of the UK Government
- ensure that the creative industries are at the heart of any new industrial policy
- fully harness the research and development potential of the UK to create a thriving R&D ecosystem which encompasses science and technology, as well as creative arts, social sciences and humanities.
-
Kate Petersons, 2023 BA Design for Branded Spaces, London College of Communication, UAL
Strategy 2022-2032
The world needs creativity. Our strategy shows how we will bring creativity to the world.
-
Maryam Adam, 2021 BA Graphic Communication Design, Central Saint Martins, UAL | Photograph: Maryam Adam
Governance
The Governance Team makes sure that the decisions of UAL are properly made and meet all of our legal and corporate obligations.
-
Tuli Litvak, 2018 BA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins, UAL | Photograph: John Sturrock
Academic partnerships
We can award research and taught degrees and acts as validating and awarding body for a number of arts institutions both in the UK and internationally.