Number of UK creative businesses increases in 2023-24

The number of UK creative industries businesses returned to growth in the year to March 2024 after contracting during the longer timeframe, including Covid.

Creative industries grew 1.0 per cent from March 2023 to March 2024, in marked contrast to the fall of -9.9 per cent in businesses over the longer period between March 2019 and March 2024.

Overall, the number of businesses in the included DCMS sectors in March 2024 increased slightly by 1.0 per cent from March 2023 but was similar to the number in March 2019 (+0.1 per cent). In comparison, the number of UK businesses overall in March 2024 was similar to both March 2023 (-0.1 per cent) and March 2019 (+0.2 per cent).

The increase in the included DCMS sectors between March 2023 and March 2024 was mainly driven by an increase in the number of businesses in the tourism industries, creative industries and the overlapping cultural sector.

However, trends over time vary between sectors:

Businesses in the cultural sector saw the highest relative growth (+3.3 per cent) between March 2023 and March 2024 and also increased (+12.7 per cent) between March 2019 and March 2024.

Businesses in the tourism industries slightly increased (+1.2 per cent) from March 2023 to March 2024 and also saw an increase (+9.7 per cent) between March 2019 and March 2024.

Sports sector businesses increased (+1.8 per cent) from March 2023 to March 2024 and also increased (+12.8 per cent) between March 2019 and March 2024.
gambling sector businesses decreased (-6.4 per cent) from March 2023 to March 2024 and also decreased (-17.4 per cent) between March 2019 and March 2024.

More on the Government website here.

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