YouTubers Pump £2.2bn into UK Economy as Parliament Forms Group to Back Creators

YouTube creators added a staggering £2.2 billion to the UK economy in 2024 and supported 45,000 jobs, according to a new impact study by Oxford Economics.

The findings come as a new all-party parliamentary group (APPG) is launched to represent the interests of UK content creators and influencers.

Labour MP for Enfield North, Feryal Clark, who co-chairs the group, praised creators as “trailblazers of a new creative revolution” who had been “undervalued in Westminster for too long.”

Fitness influencer Lilly Sabri welcomed both the research and the parliamentary recognition, stressing how platforms like YouTube have transformed careers.
“For years people questioned whether content creation was a real job,” she said. “Without YouTube, I wouldn’t have launched my businesses or employed the people I do today.”

Although APPGs are informal and hold no legislative power, they play an influential role by feeding industry perspectives directly to policymakers. For many creators, the group signals overdue recognition of their work and the challenges they face—such as lack of training opportunities, difficulties securing funding, and obstacles in obtaining filming permits.

“This new cross-party forum will break down barriers stifling talent and ensure Britain leads the world as the home of creativity, innovation, and ambition,” Ms. Clark added.

Britain is already home to some of the world’s biggest YouTube stars, including DanTDM, the Sidemen, and Joseph Garrett (known as Stampy), who boasts 10 million subscribers. Yet creators say revenue streams often lag far behind traditional media, with advertisers historically paying less for online views than for television audiences.

Joseph Garrett explained that while this gap is narrowing, content creators remain heavily reliant on advertisers and sponsors. Meanwhile, Brandon B—whose short-form visual effects videos attract 16 million subscribers—argued the industry is ready for more government support.
“We’re now at a scale where we need a government stamp of approval to help us grow,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He highlighted ongoing struggles with UK bureaucracy, including securing simple filming permits. “If the UK can streamline these systems, creators here will be able to reach even larger global audiences,” he said.

The growing political recognition reflects a broader trend. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer invited 90 influencers to Downing Street, while in the United States, the White House has begun including content creators in press briefings alongside traditional journalists.