MigrationAdvisory Committee Acts on TIGA’s Representations
TIGA, the trade association representing the
games industry, today welcomed a report by the Migration Advisory Committee
which rejected the idea that a job should automatically
be removed from the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) after two years. The SOL enables games
developers to fill vacancies for specific roles relatively quickly because it enables
employers to look outside of the UK/EU labour markets for staff without having
to advertise within the UK/EU first.
The Government had previously indicated that it
wanted to remove from the SOL all occupations that have been on it for more
than a given period, in principle two years, regardless of shortages affecting
the sectors concerned. TIGA made representations to the MAC against
the automatic removal of jobs from the SOL after two years.
Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:
“Game developers and digital publishers invest in
training and many work with education providers to ensure that courses are of
good quality in order to improve the supply of high quality development staff
available to work in the industry. Unfortunately, skill shortages in specific
roles do exist and so it is important that games businesses can recruit highly
skilled personnel from outside of the EU when the need arises.
“The employment of
migrants in the UK games Industry can actually help to create conditions that
promote the additional recruitment of resident workers. This is because when UK studios hire skilled
migrant workers, they sometimes have a multiplier effect and result in the
employment of teams of resident workers who are employed to work with them.
Additionally, the employment of skilled migrant workers typically results in
knowledge sharing with existing teams. This entails an enhancement in the
skills and knowledge of the indigenous workforce.
“TIGA is pleased that the MAC has listened to our
representations. The MAC has rejected the idea that a job should automatically
be removed from the SOL after two years – the sunset clause. The MAC has also
recommended for SOL status specific job titles within a number of occupations
that are relevant to the video games and digital publishing sector. TIGA hopes
that the Government will accept the MAC’s recommendations. TIGA will continue
to work with developers, education providers and other partners to minimise the
industry’s need to recruit personnel from outside of the UK/EU. We will also
continue to work closely with the MAC.”
Giselle Stewart, TIGA board member and General
Manager at Ubisoft Reflections, said:
“With Games Tax Relief coming into effect in April
of this year, the UK games industry is set for growth and there will be an
increase in the
demand for highly skilled personnel. TIGA’s research indicates that Games Tax
Relief will generate over 4,660 direct and indirect jobs (equivalent to around
half of the existing workforce in the games development sector) over five
years. To enable UK studios to take advantage of this tax relief, we must
ensure that they are able to recruit highly skilled personnel from beyond the
EEA if they cannot be sourced locally. So I am delighted that all of TIGA’s
work with the MAC has paid dividends. We now need the UK Government to listen
to the MAC and adopt its recommendations.”
The full list of job titles
the MAC has recommended for the SOL can be seen in Table 10.1. of the MAC
Report Skilled Shortage Sensible
(February 2013). (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/workingwithus/mac/34mac-sixth-review/mac-report?view=Binary). The
job titles relevant to the video games industry are listed below.
Occupation
title
and SOC 2010
code
Job
titles included on the shortage occupation list relevant to the video games
industry (and other information
where applicable)
IT Business analysts, architects and systems designers (2135)
ONLY the following job title within this
occupation: The following job title within visual effects and
2D/3D computer animation for film, television or video games
sectors: systems engineer.
2136 programmers and software development
professionals
ONLY the following job titles within this
occupation: The following job titles within visual effects
and 2D/3D computer animation for film, television or video games
sectors: software developer, shader writer and games designer.
3411 Artists
ONLY the following job title within this
occupation: The following job title within visual effects and
2D/3D computer animation for film, television or video games
sectors: animator.
Arts officers, producers and directors (3416
ONLY the following job titles within this
occupation: The following job titles within visual effects and 2D/3D computer
animation for film, television or video games
sectors: 2D supervisor, 3D supervisor, computer graphics
supervisor, producer, production manager, technical director, and
visual effects supervisor.
Graphic designers (3421)
ONLY the following job titles within this
occupation: The following job titles within visual effects
and 2D/3D computer animation for film, television or video games
sectors: compositing artist, matte painter, modeller, rigger, stereo
artist and texture artist.
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. Since 2010, TIGA has won 14 business awards and has been nominated a
finalist for 16 other awards.
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.