23/06/2011

Government Pledges Commitment To Design At Landmark Summit

The Government is to put design at the heart of its plans for economic growth in the UK. The commitment will be made by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts at 'Design for Growth', a high-level summit meeting of global business leaders, leading designers and Government, which is being co-hosted today by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Design Council.

Design for Growth' brings together leaders in design, business, policy and education to discuss measures to stimulate growth in the economy. Among the guest speakers at the Summit is Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President of Industrial Design at Apple. He is joined by Ian Callum and Gerry McGovern, Design Directors at Jaguar and Land Rover and Kevin McCloud, author, broadcaster and designer.

David Willetts said: “Design forms an integral part of the Government’s plans for innovation and growth and it will be a prominent feature in our upcoming Research and Innovation strategy.

“Good design can help business to thrive and improve public services and with over 230,000 people employed in our design industry it makes a significant contribution to our economic wealth with £15 billion spent on UK design in 2009.

“It is great that Jony Ive of Apple and other world leaders in design will be at the summit to inspire the next generation British designers.”

The Summit comes within the first 100 days of the Design Council having merged with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) to become an independent charity which is the voice for design and the built environment, and the Government's advisor on design.

Voicing his support for the important ongoing role which the Design Council plays in putting design at the heart of economic growth.

David Willetts added: “The UK has a world class design sector and we need to maintain our role as a global leader which is why we have continued to support the Design Council by investing £4 million.”

'Design for Growth' takes place at the Design Council, Covent Garden and will be attended by over 150 representatives from the world of design, government and industry.

(BMcN)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

21 September 2011
UK Designers 'Should Help Identify Growth Potential'
The Government today launched a call for evidence on how the UK intellectual property system can better support our globally successful design industry.
09 January 2015
Nominations Announced For The BAFTA Awards
The nominations have been announced for the EE BAFTA Awards in 2015. The Grand Budapest Hotel receives 11 nominations. Birdman and The Theory of Everything are each nominated in ten categories. The Imitation Game has nine nominations. Boyhood and Whiplash are each nominated five times. Mr.
01 March 2005
Average council tax rise dips to 4%
Average council tax will rise by 4% in England this year, the lowest percentage increase since 1994, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has reported. CIPFA research predicted that council tax bills would rise by an average £45 to £1, 187 for a "band D" property in 2005/06 in England. In Scotland and Wales, rises of 3.
12 May 2009
New Government Strategy Heralds Minimum Design Standard
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham have urged councils and developers to put good planning, local character and high quality design at the heart of development.
23 October 2012
Birmingham City Council Announce £600m In Cuts
Birmingham City Council must make £600m in savings by 2017, with £120m in the next financial year, council bosses have said. This comes after cuts of £62m to the Labour-run authority's 2012-13 budget were voted for in February with warnings that 1,100 jobs could go.