The Government will put design at the heart of its plans for economic growth in the UK, said Universities and Science Minister David Willetts at ‘Design for Growth’, a recent high-level summit meeting co-hosted by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Design Council.
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 came 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 said: ‘The UK has a world class design sector and we need maintain our role as a global leader which is why we have continued to support the Design Council by investing £4 million.’
In line with the Government’s Plan for Growth, the Design Council will refocus its design mentoring product, Designing Demand, on manufacturing firms and particularly those with advanced manufacturing capability.
Minister of State for Business and Enterprise Mark Prisk said: ‘It’s great news that a number of small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses will be given the chance to have free design mentoring over the next year. Companies must innovate and stay ahead of their rivals to be successful on a global scale. That is why we are making these crucial investments in industrial innovation.’
‘The announcement is just part of a range of business mentoring opportunities to help small firms grow and prosper. We will shortly be launching a new network of business mentors which will help SMEs get advice from those who know best.’
Martin Temple, Chair of the Design Council said: ‘I believe this Summit marks a pivotal moment in the use of design by Britain’s businesses. The commitment to hard-wiring the use of design into the forthcoming innovation strategy is an important step, and I look forward to working with government to explore how we can progress the other ideas coming from this powerful gathering of leading thinkers.’
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