TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry and ‘Trade Association of the Year 2010’ today announced that individuals working in the UK games industry will now be able to join TIGA.
Individual membership will launch in Autumn 2010 and is available to anyone working in (or with) the UK games industry, including staff working in UK games development studios, freelancers and contractors; students and graduates and people who supply services to the games industry. Previously TIGA membership was available only at a corporate or institutional level. Individual membership will be distinct from corporate membership offering a different range of benefits and services.
Dr. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO explains the organisation’s ambition for the new service: “The games industry is a global success story and an industry of the future. TIGA wants to help both aspiring games developers and those already working in the industry to fulfill their career ambitions. Individual membership will provide access to a range of benefits, focusing on three core areas – career development; material benefits; and networking opportunities. We intend to support the next wave of creative individuals and successful interactive companies in the UK. Further details will be announced when the service launches later this year.””
On the reasons for launching individual membership Wilson adds: “TIGA is the only trade organisation that truly represents the whole spectrum of diverse talented companies and individuals that make up the UK games industry. Since 2008 TIGA membership has soared. We now have over 160 company members from across the UK. Our members include not just established independent developers and publisher owned studios but also international games publishers, small indie-studios, start-ups, creative agencies, universities and training companies, art, audio and motion capture specialists as well as law firms, accountancy firms and other service providers. Individual membership will broaden our reach even further, meaning that anyone working in the games industry or trying to start a career in the games industry can benefit from TIGA services.””
Benefits for individual members will include:
• TIGA discount platform providing discounts on retail items, events, software and hardware, training suppliers and more
• Networking events for members to meet and also hear from industry experts and guest speakers
• Seminars and mentoring sessions with industry experts
• Careers advice from industry and HR professionals via a dedicated online service
• TIGA newsletter with articles and advice on working in the games industry
On TIGA’s existing corporate/organisational membership, Wilson said: “Since its inception, TIGA’s central purpose has been to serve the game development sector. Over the last two years, TIGA has welcomed developers, publisher owned studios, publishers, outsourcers and education providers into the TIGA family in order to create a powerful network of organisations united around the vision of making the UK the best place in the world to do games business. TIGA’s commitment to serve the interests of our business and of our education members remains absolute. Over the coming months we will unveil a variety of additional services to meet the needs of our corporate/organisational members still more effectively.””
Paul Mayze, TIGA Board Member and COO of Monumental Games, said:
“Individual membership is the next stage of TIGA’s development. Individual membership will allow anyone working in the games industry to benefit from TIGA’s expertise, benefits and services. The UK games industry is becoming increasingly diverse and it is important that the whole community is served by an energetic, passionate trade body that is committed to strengthening the UK sector as a whole.””
For more information about individual membership, or to talk to us about what benefits and services you would like TIGA to offer individual members please visit www.tiga.org or email us on info@tiga.org. TIGA’s company membership remains unchanged by today’s announcement.