The Creative Industries' Post-Brexit Migration Challenges and Acquiring Foreign Talent
The UK's creative industries have felt the brunt of Brexit, with more restrictive visa policies and migration systems complicating the hiring of foreign talent. This is according to a research paper authored by Ian Fillis, Mohamed Haddoud Mohamed, and Tammy Murphy.
The report, based on a survey of employers in the creative industries, reviews the current evidence for the impact of Brexit on the sector. It focuses on the migrant and skills needs of creative businesses in the UK, particularly highlighting the heavy reliance of the industry on foreign talent, especially freelancers.
The research paper details the results of two stages of research: an initial qualitative stage and a second quantitative stage. It does not mention any specific changes recommended to the UK's visa system, but the authors do recommend changes to make it easier for UK firms to hire specialized, foreign talent.
One of the key impacts of Brexit has been stricter visa requirements and sponsorship for foreign workers. Employers in the UK must now hold a sponsor license to hire skilled workers from the EU and elsewhere, increasing competition for visas, especially in creative sectors dependent on foreign talent.
The decline in UK artists performing in EU festivals is another illustration of the difficulties in cross-border touring caused by visa and regulatory barriers. According to the report, the number of UK musicians playing at European festivals dropped by 26% compared to pre-Brexit levels.
However, despite the general hurdles, visa routes like the UK Global Talent Visa have supported inflows of highly skilled creatives. For example, Nigerians have led in fashion visas to Britain, reflecting strategic efforts to maintain international competitiveness and cultural diversity post-Brexit.
The report also highlights concerns over regional creative development, with UK-wide creative sectors, including Scotland, reporting challenges in fully nurturing and retaining domestic talent. This underscores the need for sustainable talent pipelines and openness to international migration to support growth.
Creative industry leaders are calling for urgent government action, such as visa waivers and eased touring rules, to restore access to European markets and prevent loss of global position. The sector continues to face significant challenges in balancing these visa limitations with ambitions for global cultural influence and talent growth.
Mohamed Haddoud Mohamed is an Associate Professor in Management at the British University in Dubai, while Ian Fillis is a Professor of Entrepreneurship at Liverpool John Moores University. Tammy Murphy is a faculty member at the Business and Law department of Liverpool John Moores University. The report does not provide the number of responses it received, but it mentions having 147 responses in a different context.
- The creative industries in the UK have revealed a heavy reliance on foreign talent, as outlined in a research paper authored by Ian Fillis, Mohamed Haddoud Mohamed, and Tammy Murphy.
- The paper focuses on the migrant and skills needs of UK creative businesses, shedding light on the challenges faced due to Brexit's visa policies and migration systems.
- The report discusses the severe impact of Brexit on the UK's creative industries, including increased competition for visas and decreased cross-border touring opportunities.
- The authors of the research paper propose changes to make it easier for UK firms to hire specialized, foreign talent, but do not provide specific solutions for the current visa system.
- The drop in UK musicians performing at European festivals, which declined by 26% compared to pre-Brexit levels, is evidence of the difficulties in cross-border touring caused by visa and regulatory barriers.
- The report emphasizes the need for visa waivers, eased touring rules, and sustainable talent pipelines to support growth in the creative industries and maintain UK's global position.
