From Oscar-winning films to next-generation gaming, the UK’s creative industries sector is an internationally celebrated powerhouse. Following the launch of the government’s 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy in 2025, there is a renewed focus on building on its remarkable legacy.
Creative roots
London’s renowned theatres and Manchester’s music venues. Scotland’s art festivals; Wales’ gaming centres; Northern Ireland’s film studios. These are the UK institutions that have built a creative scene that is as rooted in history as it is driven by future possibility.
Today, the UK’s creative industries span everything from film and television to architecture, music, publishing, and video games, making it the world’s second-largest destination for creative sector Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) after the USA. The country is also the third-largest exporter of creative services worldwide, reinforcing its reputation for artistic and technical excellence within a rich cultural scene.
Who could have predicted in 1950, when Alan Turing created the world’s first chess-playing algorithm, that UK gaming would become the multibillion-pound industry it is today? This pattern of growth is reflected across sectors, with film and high-end TV production spend topping £5.6 billion in 2024 and UK recorded music exports hitting a new peak of £794.2 million in the same year.
These figures demonstrate the UK’s ability to attract and sustain word-class creative talent. Supported by the government’s 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy, leaders are ensuring the UK remains the premier destination for homegrown and international creative businesses.
Taking flight
Illustrating why international creative businesses are choosing the UK to grow is Rocket Science Group, a US-headquartered company powering top studios to make next-generation games for console and PC.
With a history of producing some of the world’s most celebrated titles, including Tomb Raider and Grand Theft Auto, the UK was a natural choice for the company’s planned European expansion. And after exploring potential locations, Rocket Science landed on Cardiff, the capital of Wales.
Since arriving in Wales, Rocket Science has made a name for itself at the centre of the UK gaming scene, with its headcount growing to 40 employees in Wales alone. It has launched new studios, secured client wins, and strengthened its reputation across Europe. Looking ahead, Rocket Science wants to scale even further, with plans to open more offices—illustrating the wealth of opportunities the UK provides for international creative businesses looking to grow.
“We wanted to create 50 jobs in Wales in five years, and we achieved that in just two,” Daniel says. “Honestly, we could not have done this without the UK, and our hope is that other companies will look at us and say, ‘They did it, so we can do it too.’”
Building on success
Rocket Science credits much of its—and its contemporaries’—success in the UK to a strong network of support for creative industries, including Economy Future Funding to aid job creation, devolved creative growth funding, and Creative Wales—a Welsh Government initiative designed to build talent, investment, and growth within the sector.
UK CReative Industries AT A GLANCE
- The UK is the third largest creative services exporter in the world
- Creative Industries has increased its output more than 1.5 times faster than the wider UK economy
- £4.8 bn inward investment attracted by the film and TV sectors in 2024
“We met with Creative Wales, discussed our idea, and they pitched how they could help,” Thomas explains. “They introduced us to local lawyers, real estate, and Cardiff council, saving us so much time.”
This kind of hands-on support has helped Rocket Science integrate quickly, discover talent, and build the right connections. Across Wales, initiatives like Creative Wales have contributed to over 35,000 jobs and will benefit from a further £2.5 million in Welsh Government funding, as announced at the end of 2025.
It’s this kind of targeted support that the UK government is building upon through its 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy. Offering long-term certainty for high-growth sectors, including the creative industries, the strategy is creating an environment for businesses to thrive and grow in the UK.
The UK government is investing £150 million from the Creative Places Growth Fund to support creative hubs outside of London, including the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, and is developing higher technical qualifications and a Creative Careers Programme to inspire the next generation of talent.
The UK has long been a canvas for culture and creativity. With the 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy paving the way for even greater investment, there’s never been a better time for home and abroad businesses to be a part of this great British success story.
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