Boost for UK creative industries as global brand leaders meet in London

Speakers including Sir Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President of Industrial Design for Apple Inc., Joanna Shields, Managing Director of Facebook for Europe, and Nicole Mendelson, Executive Chairman of Karmarama, will outline the contribution of creativity to business success, provide insights into the latest trends and provide powerful case studies illustrating strategies for growth. One-to-one business meetings and a gala reception will offer networking opportunities for hundreds of delegates from UK and overseas firms.

The summit, one of 18 being organised by UK Trade & Investment during the Olympic and Paralympic Games to boost British industry, will help to build partnerships between UK firms and international businesses in advertising, the media, design and architecture.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt will host an evening reception at the Royal Academy of Arts, attended by HRH the Duchess of Cambridge.

Jeremy Hunt said: “The creative industries are an integral part of the UK’s economic success and future growth. We have one of the most innovative and successful advertising industries in the world as well as a strong and vibrant media sector.

“In addition to this, the Olympics will leave no-one in any doubt about the incredible strength of our design and architecture industries. The venues we have built to host the Games stand as testament to the UK’s talent and our ability to turn vision into reality.”

Other speakers at the British Business Embassy in Lancaster House will include Christopher Bailey, Chief Creative Officer of Burberry, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Rogers, Moray MacLennan, Worldwide CEO of M&C Saatchi, and Paul Priestman, Co-Founder of Priestman Goode.

Also speaking will be Sir Martin Sorrell. Chief Executive of WPP, Sir John Hegerty, Worldwide Creative Director of BBH, and Thomas Heatherwick, who designed the British Pavilion at Shanghai Expo and the new London bus, and whose extruded furniture is on display at Lancaster House.

The UK has the largest creative industries sector in Europe, which directly and indirectly employs 1.5 million people and generates exports worth £8.9 billion a year.