The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, must use the Autumn Budget to bolster the UK’s creative industries if she is serious about delivering economic growth, according to leading audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg.

The Business Case for Creative Skills: What Employers Really Want from Designers in 2026

In boardrooms and hiring meetings across the UK, the conversation around creative talent is changing. Design is no longer viewed purely as a visual function, it is increasingly seen as a business-critical discipline that shapes branding, customer experience, and product success. For employers, this shift has redefined what it means to hire a “good designer.”