China is the world’s fastest growing economy. The US is the home of Silicon Valley, high-tech and Hollywood. What is the UK’s unique sales pitch to the world?
Britain isn’t quite what it seems at first sight. Beneath the thin veneer of tradition, convention and tolerance is a quirky, creative, competitive, aggressive society. Wally Olins, Founder, Saffron Brand Consultants
Britain holds three strong cards: the English language and the associated cultural history that attracts tourists and gives us a strong foothold in the media; a certain flexibility, which can show up as sloppiness in some industries but allows us to have innovative and creative firms; and an early exit from manufacturing, which we were not very good at in the 20th century. Frances Cairncross, Rector, Exeter College, Oxford
The UK is a free-thinking, innovative melting pot whose global influence continues to belie its size. Matthew Gwyther, Editor, Management Today
Britain should promote itself as a cosmopolitan centre: open and willing to support the best ideas and the most innovative talent from across the world. James Wilsdon, Head of science and innovation, Demos
Many firsts have come from Britain. There’s a creative tank of ideas here, but it must be exploited better. Call it Creative Central. Other countries do great things with design and innovation but the UK has the edge. Peter Williams, Chief executive, Alpha Airports Group plc
The UK is the creative crucible for the world – a foundry for new thinking. Richard Seymour, Co-founder and director, Seymourpowell
We don’t get credit for our innovation because others market our ideas and creations. We could be the engine of design, creativity and innovation. Cary Cooper, Psychology professor, Lancaster University
Britain – the knowledge centre of the world. And, at the same time, we should show we are a deeply tolerant and open-minded society and the leading venue for the best brains across the planet. Boris Johnson MP, Conservative higher education spokesman
Should we just accept we are a nation of shopkeepers, who are tolerant, support the underdog and don’t like to boast? We have got a successful pop industry but we’re not sure how (no pilot schemes, government grants or performance indicators). Perhaps our pitch is about our quirkiness. Should it just be that we’re cool? Adrian Barker, Policy manager, the Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government
UK plc is proud of its freedoms, values and heritage, and is strong in science and cultural imagination. A unique mix.< Lynne Brindley, Chief executive of the British Library
The UK’s ever-expanding prominence in contemporary art, music, finance, low-cost travel, language, crime and education, combined with its new-found international makeup, make it the world’s most fertile base for creativity of all sorts to flourish. You can even eat properly here now. Tom Dixon, Designer
In a more competitive world only the ubiquity of original innovation fuels competitive advantage for us all. Sir John Harvey-Jones, Troubleshooter, industrialist
A just society with freedom of opportunity. It has the world’s centre of excellence in financial services. More honestly, the UK is getting less important with reasonable dignity. Jon Moulton, Managing partner, Alchemy Partners
Change without risk, modernity and tradition, an old country with a new face. Lord David Lipsey, Chair, the Social Market Foundation
Balancing the need for global growth with the consequences of it. Richard Reed, Co-founder, Innocent Ltd
Article first published in Design Council Magazine, Issue 2, Summer 2007