1. What Industrial Strategy will maximise economic growth, productivity and good, high-skilled jobs across the UK, how the Government’s plan measures up to this design - and how the Government should best measure progress?

The Premier League welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Business and Trade Committee’s inquiry into the Government’s Industrial Strategy proposals. As a globally leading sporting and media organisation, the Premier League plays a key role in the UK’s creative industries.

The Premier League contributes £8bn annually in GVA to the UK economy, supports over 90,000 jobs and generates £4.2bn in tax revenues. Its success is built on a high-investment, high-risk model that has made it the most watched and commercially successful football league globally.

To maintain and enhance this position, the Government’s Industrial Strategy must support policies that promote investment, protect IP, enable global talent recruitment and facilitate the expansion of sports infrastructure.

Intellectual property

Sports broadcasting is an integral part of the overall broadcast market and accounts for more than half of all programming spend in the UK. The Premier League is a substantial broadcaster in its own right, and in partnership with its nearly 50 rightsholders.  

Based at studios in west London employing over 200 staff, the Premier League produces over 3,800 hours of unique content per season, comprising live coverage, highlights and reviews, preview and promotional programming, studio discussions, and interviews with key figures. This content is produced for over 180 markets globally.  

Further, from the 2026/27 season, the Premier League will bring all international media content production and distribution in-house, following a more than 20-year partnership with IMG. This will make the Premier League one of the largest and highest-earning broadcast operations in Europe. 

Ensuring a robust framework for IP protection is critical in safeguarding the economic model that underpins football broadcasting. The proliferation of illegal streaming and digital piracy threatens the financial stability of the sport, and the Government must adopt stronger enforcement mechanisms.

Like all entertainment creators, professional sporting organisations are dependent on a strong and effective regime of IP Rights, most notably copyright, trademark and design rights, and rights over data. The UK’s IP regime should ensure the creators of broadcast and online content, branded goods and design, and data are rewarded for their work.

Migration

Likewise, maintaining a flexible immigration system that allows clubs to recruit top global talent while developing domestic pathways is essential for the league’s competitiveness and long-term sustainability.

Infrastructure

The Premier League also supports investment in infrastructure, such as stadium expansion and training facilities, as a means of driving regional economic growth.

For example, Everton football club have completed the building of a new 52,000-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. This, once unused, piece of land is now being transformed by the football club. The creation of the new stadium is also part of a wider stadium project which will be a vital catalyst for the regeneration of north Liverpool.

The Club estimates this project will deliver a huge package of socioeconomic benefits, including a boost of approximately £1.3bn to the UK economy, the creation of thousands of new jobs, attracting 1.4 million visitors annually to the city of Liverpool and catalysing an additional £650m in accelerated local regeneration.

A key part of this development is the Goodison Legacy Project which includes the redevelopment of the site of the old stadium to create new community amenities. Working in consultation with the local community the plan is to deliver; new housing; health facilities; education facilities; public green space; community space; youth zone; and facilities for isolated community members.

Technology

Additionally, data rights and sports technology innovation present opportunities for economic expansion, but require clear regulatory support.

Soft power

Finally, the Premier League plays a significant role in the UK’s international soft power, and its global reach should be leveraged to promote UK trade, cultural engagement, and economic diplomacy.

The Premier League looks forward to working with the Government to support the delivery of an Industrial Strategy that recognises the unique and substantial contributions of the sports and creative industries to the UK’s economic success.

2. What fraction of the ‘growth gap’ between currently forecast growth (e.g. by the Office for Budget Responsibility and the International Monetary Fund) and the Government’s growth target (namely highest sustainable growth rate in the G7) could, and should, the Industrial Strategy help close?

[NO RESPONSE]

3. What Industrial Strategy is required to deliver the Government’s carbon reduction targets set out at COP29, de-risk the economy from geo-political threats and close regional gaps in growth?

[NO RESPONSE]

4. Whether the Government should prioritise economic sectors or ‘grand challenges’? If sectors are the right focus, has the government prioritised the right growth-driving sectors of the economy? What is the best design of industrial strategy for these sectors? How should Government identify and invest in the sectors of the future?

The Premier League strongly supports the inclusion of the creative industries within the Industrial Strategy. Sports broadcasting – and, specifically, live event industries - should be recognised as key growth drivers due to their significant economic impact, job creation and international appeal. Additionally, protecting IP in digital content is crucial for ensuring continued investment and expansion in these industries.

Sports broadcasting is a fundamental part of the overall broadcast market and accounts for more than half of all programming spend in the UK. The Premier League is a substantial broadcaster in its own right and in partnership with its nearly 50 rightsholders.

Based at studios in west London employing over 200 staff, the Premier League output is over 3,800 hours of unique content per season, comprising live coverage, highlights and reviews, preview and promotional programming, studio discussions, and interviews with key figures. This content is produced for over 180 markets globally.

Further, from the 2026/27 season, the Premier League will bring all international media content production and distribution in-house, following a more than 20-year partnership with IMG. This will make the Premier League one of the largest and highest earning broadcast operations in Europe.

In considering how to support growth in the Creative Industries, Government should recognise the importance of sports broadcasting, its scale and its capacity for growth.

5. How should the Government approach economic sectors which have not been prioritised, including the foundational industries and supply chains that the growth-driving sectors depend on?

[NO RESPONSE]

6. What is the right balance of investment in ‘horizontal’ policy, such as skills, infrastructure, clean energy, and transport, and sector-specific investment?

The right balance between horizontal and sector-specific investment is crucial for sustaining economic growth across industries. From the Premier League’s perspective, ensuring strong horizontal policy — through investment in skills, infrastructure, transport and other vital areas — is essential to enabling football, and other industries, to thrive.

Well-planned infrastructural investment benefits the Premier League by improving transport links to stadiums, enhancing public amenities and supporting regional job creation. Similarly, a well-functioning skills pipeline ensures that clubs and the broader football ecosystem can access the talent needed both on and off the pitch, from coaching and sports science, to media, digital innovation and stadium operation.

While the Premier League is not seeking sector-specific investment from Government, a well-designed industrial strategy that prioritises enabling conditions — such as efficient planning processes for infrastructure, modern transport networks and regional investment incentives — will support its continued contribution to economic growth. In so doing, the Government can help sustain and amplify the positive impact that football has on local economies and communities nationwide.

7. What is the right of quantum of public investment in industrial strategy? What is the best design of fiscal policy instruments (including the balance between capital spending, tax incentives and financial investments) to support the Industrial Strategy, learning the lessons from industrial policy around the world to maximise value for money and crowd-in private investment? How should the government’s methodology for making public spending decisions evolve? What kind of public investment has the best fiscal multipliers for industrial strategy?

[NO RESPONSE]

8. How should government modernise key institutions and ‘levers’ to support its industrial strategy, in particular to:

1. Foster higher levels of innovation which diffuse more effectively through the economy.

2. Make better use of public procurement.

3. Mobilise equity investment and banking finance.

4. Sharpen the spur of competition.

The Government’s modernisation of key institutions and policy levers should reflect the evolving dynamics of the sports and entertainment industries, which contribute significantly to the UK economy. A strategic approach to industrial policy in this sector will help foster innovation, improve financial mechanisms and enhance global competitiveness. In this context, the Government should:

• Strengthen IP enforcement mechanisms to combat digital piracy and illegal streaming. The integrity of media rights is fundamental to sustaining investment in sports broadcasting and digital content creation. Ensuring stronger enforcement against infringement will protect revenue streams, incentivise innovation and uphold the UK’s leadership in creative industries.

• Continuously review visa and work permit regulations to facilitate global talent recruitment. The UK’s ability to attract top-tier athletes, coaches and technical professionals is critical to maintaining its competitive edge in global sports. Ensuring that the visa system is flexible and efficient enables clubs, leagues, and related industries to access the skills and expertise needed to drive innovation and performance.

• Expand regulatory support for sports data rights to protect the economic value of sports-generated data. In an era where data analytics drive engagement, performance optimisation, and commercial opportunities, ensuring robust protections for sports data is essential. Clearer legal frameworks would support rightsholders, encourage investment in data-driven services, and prevent unauthorised exploitation.

• Promote public-private investment models to support the development of sports infrastructure and broadcasting capabilities. Strengthening partnerships between Government, investors and industry stakeholders can enhance funding mechanisms for stadiums, training facilities and media platforms, helping to modernise the UK’s sporting landscape and stimulating its economic contribution.

By adapting these measures, the Government can better align its industrial strategy with the needs of the sports and entertainment sectors, maximising their contribution to innovation, investment and global competitiveness.

9. How will the Government devolve economic power (e.g. to support regional growth and reach areas that have been left behind) and re-organise Whitehall to ensure the requisite degree of policy coordination and delivery?

The Government’s approach to devolving economic power and supporting regional growth should recognise the role of a diverse range of industries, including professional football, in driving local economic development.

While the Premier League is only one part of the broader economy, its national presence and economic footprint demonstrate how targeted investment in regional infrastructure — through public-private partnerships and enabling policies — can contribute to communities across the UK.

Through football clubs based in cities and towns across England and Wales, the Premier League plays a significant role in regional economies. Through strategic investment in training academies, stadium improvements, and community sports initiatives, football can support Government objectives by stimulating local economic growth, creating jobs, and improving public spaces.

For instance, in the North West, the Premier League’s economic impact amounted to approximately £3.3 billion over the 2021/22 season, supporting 33,000 jobs, according to research carried out by EY. That season, the Premier League was found to have contributed a total of £8bn in GVA to the UK economy, with £5bn-worth of its economic footprint located outside of London.

Similarly, across other regions, the Premier League contributes to local businesses, tourism and employment, with clubs acting as economic anchors within their communities. Strengthening collaboration between Government, local authorities and private investors can further amplify these benefits, ensuring that economic growth extends beyond major metropolitan centres and into areas that have historically been left behind.

By recognising and leveraging the economic influence of industries with strong regional reach, such as football, the Government can develop policies that more effectively support local economies and promote sustainable regional development.

10. What duties, powers and resources does the Industrial Strategy Council need to effectively oversee the Industrial Strategy?

[NO RESPONSE]

11. How should Parliament most effectively scrutinise the progress of the Government’s work, including scrutiny of commercially sensitive investments which are typically not disclosed either to the public or parliament?

[NO RESPONSE]

5 of 5