Following the appointment on 20 July 2026 by His Majesty The King of Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Advertising Association Chief Executive Stephen Woodford has issued the following statement.
“We congratulate Andy Burnham MP on his appointment as Prime Minister. Having previously served as Culture Secretary and championed advertising and the creative industries as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he has shown that he understands our sector is not just a cultural asset, but a powerful, nationwide engine of economic growth. Advertising was recognised in the latest GDP growth figures as one of the key sectors driving the 0.7% increase.
The UK advertising and marketing sector is a global powerhouse, contributing £108.6 billion in GVA to our economy, supporting 1.7 million jobs – with 60% of our directly employed workforce located outside of London – and driving a record £19.4 billion in exports. We are the creative sector that powers UK business growth, with 3.6 million UK businesses, large and small using advertising in 2025.
As the Prime Minister begins his mission to deliver good growth across every postcode, we stand ready to partner with his government. Key to delivering our sector’s full potential is an evidence-based policy environment that drives competition and maintains the UK’s global position as an advertising superpower. To that end, we need government to promote innovation, protect our world-class self-regulatory system, and reform the Skills and Growth Levy to fund apprentice salaries. When advertising thrives, the entire UK economy grows.”
