Ex-Financial Secretary
to the Treasury calls for Government to look again at Games Tax Relief
TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, revealed today
that while 216 new games companies entered the UK games industry between 2008
and 2011, there were also 197 closures. Limited access to private and public
finance is contributing to the high studio mortality figures. The findings are
based on a survey conducted by Games Investor Consulting in 2011 of 75 per cent
of the UK’s games businesses and published by TIGA in a forthcoming report, Making Games in the UK Today: A
Census of the UK Developer and Digital Publishing Sector.
Stephen Timms MP, former Financial Secretary to Treasury, commented:
“This timely report is a further indication that in Government we were right to
recognise the growth potential of the video games industry and propose a
targeted tax relief to help the sector to grow and create hundreds of highly
skilled jobs in the UK. I urge the Coalition Government to review Games Tax
Relief for the forthcoming Budget.”
Key findings from TIGA’s Report include:
- 216 new games companies entered
the UK games industry between 2008 and 2011, but there were also 197
closures. - The UK’s share of global
investment (venture capital and private equity) in the games industry
declined from 10 per cent in the mid-2000s to 3.5 per cent. - 93 per cent of TIGA members
said that a new Games Tax Relief would result in more private investment
in the UK games industry. - 63 per cent of TIGA members
said that they would seek private investment in new games following the
introduction of a new Games Tax Relief.
Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said:
“Despite an almost record number of start-up studios, the industry’s potential
is being held back by limited access to both private and public finance. UK
developers are missing out on investment from global publishers and from global
venture capital. This is partly because the UK, unlike many of our key competitors,
lacks a tax break for games production, which effectively reduces the cost of
games development. Access to debt, bonds and equity finance is difficult
because of the high levels of uncertainty about consumer demand and the
intangible nature of IP in the games sector. In contrast to the film industry
which benefits both from a tax credit and from lottery funding, there is
negligible public financial support available for video games development.
“Poor access to finance has contributed to a high incidence of business
closures in the games sector. The Coalition Government should consider the
introduction of a carefully targeted tax break for games production. This would
improve the availability of finance for the sector and enable the sector to
compete on a level playing field with our overseas competitors. TIGA will bring
forward a revised, well-targeted tax break for games production in time for the
March 2012 Budget.”
Oli Christie, CEO at Neon Play, said:
“UK game developers and digital publishers have the skills, the creativity and
the ability to generate new IP. However, our industry is being held back by
difficulty accessing finance. A well-targeted tax break for games production
would help our industry overcome this challenge and enable us to contribute to
the UK’s economic recovery.”
Jason Kingsley, TIGA Chairman and CEO and Creative Director at Rebellion, said:
“The fact that many studios struggle to raise finance beyond the prototype
phase is particularly worrying and is contributing to the high studio mortality
rate. A carefully targeted Games Tax Relief would enhance the availability of
finance for studios, improve the UK’s attractiveness to global investors and
allow studios to grow and retain experienced development staff.”
Notes to editors:
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The
majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house
publisher owned developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing
companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA
won 10 business awards and was nominated a finalist for 9 other awards during
2010 and 2011. In 2010 TIGA won two business awards including ‘Trade
Association of the Year’ from the Trade Association Forum.
In 2011, TIGA won eight business awards including ‘Trade Association of the
Year’ from the Trade Association Forum, ‘Outstanding Organisation’ from the
Chartered Management Institute and two Global Business Excellence Awards,
including ‘Outstanding Marketing Campaign’. Richard Wilson won the
‘Leadership Award’ from the Trade Association Forum and the ‘Outstanding
Leader’ award from the Chartered Management Institute.
TIGA is an Investors in
People organisation.
TIGA's vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games
business. We focus on three sets of activities: political representation,
generating media coverage and developing services that enhance the
competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are effectively
represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the media and
they receive benefits that make a material difference to their businesses,
including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities.
For further
information, please contact Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on: 07875 939 643, or
email richard.wilson@tiga.org.