Roundhouse responds to autumn budget

Roundhouse Chief Executive Jenny Mollica responds to the Government’s Autumn Budget:

“We welcome the Government’s commitment in this Budget to backing the next generation of innovators. Through Roundhouse Works – our dedicated workspace and development programme, supporting freelancers and entrepreneurs – we witness daily the ambition of young creators, alongside the real financial barriers that threaten to stifle their potential. Dedicated support, including targeted measures for young entrepreneurs and female founders, represents a crucial step toward breaking down systemic obstacles to creative enterprise.

“We strongly welcome the business rate freeze for the vital breathing room it offers England’s grassroots venues. These spaces are the lifeblood of our cultural ecosystem, nurturing future talent and supporting young people in the crucial early stages of their creative pathways.

“Yet, against the backdrop of an acute youth crisis – with over one million young people out of education, employment, or training, and British teenagers reporting the lowest happiness levels in Europe – interventions cannot stop at enterprise alone. As the youth mental health crisis deepens, access to arts and creative spaces is essential. We await the Milburn Review and the Government’s response with urgency, and through our Young Creatives Commission, we will continue championing the transformative power of creative opportunity for every young person.”