YouTube calls for greater support and recognition for content creators

It follows the publication by YouTube this week of its Creator Consultation report, based on feedback from almost 10,000 UK creators. The report concludes that a lack of recognition from both the government and the wider creative sector is significantly hampering UK creator growth.

It says that the creator economy is worth over £2bn to the UK economy and supports more than 45,000 jobs.

But the report says that over half (56%) of UK creators don't feel they have a voice in shaping government policies that impact their work. Nearly half (43%) of UK creators think their value is not recognised by the broader creative industry.

Just 17% of creators feel adequately supported in essential areas like skills and training, while only 7% feel supported when it comes to securing capital and business loans.

As a result, YouTube is urging the government and creative industry to recognize content creators as a profession.

Among the report’s recommendations is a call for the government to formally appoint a Minister for Creators.

It also recommends that creators are represented on the Creative Industries Taskforce/ Council alongside the UK’s other leading creative sectors, and that the government provides creators with better access to training funds and to finance.

Meanwhile, YouTube announced it is partnering with the National Film & TV School to launch a ´Creator Incubator´, a new programme designed to cultivate technical skills among the next generation of creators.

“This is the first course of its kind in the UK, built specifically for creators, by creators — helping participants learn to scope, plan, and build their publication schedule to improve audience engagement and the production quality,” said YouTube.