The Bottom Line What Is the UK Good At?
9 snips
Jan 8, 2026 
Ric Lewis, a property investment guru, Kate Bingham, a biotech venture specialist and former vaccine task force head, and Shona McCarthy, an arts leader with deep festival roots, dive into Britain's strengths. They discuss the UK’s creative industries, highlighting the economic impact of the Edinburgh Fringe and the Premier League as cultural exports. Bingham sheds light on the life sciences sector's success, driven by education and AI innovation. The guests call for a national focus on true centres of excellence to build on these strengths.
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Britain As A Cultural Powerhouse
- The UK excels as a global creator and curator of culture, spanning arts, music, literature, screen and major sports like the Premier League.
- Those cultural strengths are national assets that can be amplified to drive economic and soft-power advantage.
Fringe As A Microcosm Of Creativity
- Shona McCarthy describes Edinburgh Fringe as a month-long city takeover with shows in taxis, swimming pools and thousands of performances.
- The Fringe showcases the UK's depth in performing arts and freedom of expression on a global stage.
Life Sciences Strengths And Ecosystem
- The UK retains world-class life sciences through strong universities, diverse clinical data and experienced regulators.
- That ecosystem enabled fast vaccine trials and early national vaccination during COVID-19.
