The British Inspiration Awards

What makes Britain 'Great'?

With what special genius, what incredible insights, were our forefathers imbued when in 1707 they created the Union, and forged out of a group of rain-swept islands off the European Continent, a nation that came so profoundly to change the world? How could they have known that politically, militarily, economically and culturally, we would be so much stronger united, so much more than the sum of our parts?

What defines us? What makes Britain great for you, for us? Whether in art, music, design, fashion, entertainment, science, industry or technology, Britain has the artists, designers, stars, talent, scientists and companies that lead the world today and the people to make it great and continue that global leadership into the future.

It's time to throw aside our national hypochondria and to celebrate our people and achievements, then look forward to what the future holds for us all as Great Britain.

The British Inspiration Awards were created to celebrate Britain the country; to develop a positive spirit and foster a community where difference and diversity are looked upon as an asset and where curiosity and a desire to engage are the first response to difference. It's a chance for business and individuals to thank all of the people past and present who have made Britain their home, added to our rich culture and given us the opportunities we all enjoy.

- David Yarnton, Awards Founder and Chairman

UK Trade & Investment

The UK's creative industries are among the most influential and successful in the world. Building on a rich heritage, UK creative pioneers and entrepreneurs, from areas such as architecture, design, fashion, film, music, digital games and publishing, continue to enjoy global renown.

As a proportion of GDP, the UK has the largest creative industries sector in the world. It accounted for 6.2&percentage; of UK Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2007, with exports of creative services totalling £16.6 billion.

Creativity is deeply embedded in UK culture and society, characterised by originality and intelligence. This has led to UK creative companies being world beaters in many areas. For example, the UK continues to be a global leader in sales of TV formats, such as The X Factor and Top Gear, and is the second biggest exporter of TV programming hours. In music, the UK is the largest market in the EU and the third biggest worldwide, producing internationally renowned artists such as Coldplay and Leona Lewis.

The UK’s intrinsic creative vitality is underpinned by its strength as a centre for international business, finance and growing enterprise and the role of English as a world language.

For all these reasons, the UK’s creative industries look set for a bright future. Recent analysis indicates that the sector will grow by an average of 4% between 2009 and 2013, more than double the rate of the rest of the economy.

Source:

UK Trade & Investment – “Springboard for Success”
Published Jan 2011