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Design

BERR supports the Design Council, Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) through core and project funding to 'improve prosperity and well being in the UK by inspiring and enabling the best use of design'

BERR Secretary of State is accountable to Parliament for the activities and performance of the Design Council. Within BERR, the Materials Manufacturing and Engineering Team is the sponsoring team for the Design Council.

In the 2003 Innovation Report, "Competing in the global economy: the innovation challenge" we challenged industry to deliver fully on its own potential for innovation, and charged the Design Council to take the lead in demonstrating how design can transform the UK economy.

The Chancellor commissioned a report 'The Cox Review of Creativity in Business: building on the UK's strengths' at the 2005 Budget. It was led by Design Council Chair, Sir George Cox and was concerned with ensuring that UK businesses - SMEs and modern manufacturers in particular - apply creativity and design to improve their productivity and performance.

The final report was published in December 2005 and was welcomed by government and industry. New initiatives include the roll-out of a national programme of design-led business support for SME's, and a biennial design promotion to support regional economic development through public engagement.

The Cox Review is being implemented through a high level Whitehall group. Simultaneously, BERR has published its parallel economic study, BERR Economics Paper No.15, 'Creativity, Design and Business Performance'.

In his keynote speech at the Enterprise Conference on 2nd December 2006, the Chancellor endorsed the findings of the Cox Review.

The review was for the Chancellor so the recommendations are largely for government and the public sector. However, Sir George challenges business equally. The Review draws on BERR Economics Paper, overseas comparisons and other evidence to underline how creativity enhances company performance through improving strategy and operations as well as products and services - and how vital it is for us to recognise the challenge of developing economies which are investing massively in exactly these high value-adding skills.

BERR Contact: Annie Norgrove
Phone: 0207 215 1637
Email: annie.norgrove@berr.gsi.gov.uk