Coming together to unlock creative potential for the UK
The new Create x Connect programme will drive industry innovation and support the UK’s creative pipeline.
May 15, 2026 [[read-time]] minute read
The creative industries are a core UK Government priority sector for growth in the Industrial Strategy, and rightly so. At YouTube, we have long advocated for the voices of content creators to be recognised and supported.
That is why, alongside the BBC and the National Film and Television School, we have launched a landmark three-way partnership to deliver a new, industry-leading skills and training programme for TV producers, digital creators and journalists across the UK. This isn’t only a good thing to do, it’s the right thing to do.
£2.2B
The creator economy contributes £2.2 billion to UK GDP and supports thousands of jobs.
Understanding and supporting our creators
Last year when we launched the Creator Consultation to understand how we can best support creators, one of the most striking statistics was that only 17 percent of creators have access to the right training. Put simply, industry structures haven’t yet caught up and there is a clear deficit in the skills and support given to young creatives.
Over the last decade, the two worlds of YouTube and TV and film have gone from "never the twain shall meet" to a complete crossover. YouTube content is increasingly watched on a TV screen, and what started as vlogging in bedrooms has evolved into creators building their own production companies and, in some cases, green-lighting their own formats.
The creator economy now contributes £2.2 billion to UK GDP and supports thousands of jobs.
“This partnership will bring together the BBC’s heritage of trusted storytelling, the NFTS’s world-class technical mastery, and YouTube’s next generation talent and access to global audiences.”
Access to the right tools and training
The launch in Birmingham yesterday was a timely reminder that talent comes from every corner of the UK, and at YouTube we are committed to giving opportunity to this talent. I am delighted that we’re playing a pivotal role in supporting high-quality content across news, children’s content and learning, and digital strategies up and down the country.
This partnership will bring together the BBC’s reputation for trusted storytelling, the NFTS’s world-class technical mastery, and YouTube’s next generation talent and access to global audiences. We believe everyone should have access to the right tools and training. That’s why we’re teaming up to support high-quality content across news, kids content and learning and digital strategies.
At YouTube, our mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the world. This partnership will do exactly that, supporting creatives in every part of the country and ensuring that every voice is heard.