Government still needs a plan for growth

By November 29, 2011 Press Releases

TIGA, the Trade Association representing the UK Games
Industry said today that the Government still needed to develop a strategy for
economic growth based on the creative and high technology industries.

TIGA made the comments following the Government’s Autumn
Statement.

 

Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO said:

“Today’s Autumn statement confirmed the severity of the
challenge facing the UK.  Economic Growth
is flat and disappointing.  Unemployment,
including Youth unemployment, is rising. 
Productivity is weak.  Borrowing
is higher.

“The Government plans to kick-start infrastructure
investment and help small businesses access finance is of course welcome. 

“However, the Government has yet to spell out a clear strategy
for re-balancing the economy away from Financial Services towards business
investment and export focussed industries. 
The UK Government needs to support those sectors where we have a
competitive advantage:  high technology
industries and creative industries, including the video games sector.

“The Government can help the UK video games industry grow
and create high skilled jobs for young people by introducing games tax relief
and a creative content fund.  Expanding
the scope by the R&D tax credits to include the cost of IP protection,
design costs and premises costs would help many creative and high technology
businesses.  Introducing TIGA’s plan to
enable small businesses to offset training costs against corporation tax would
enhance productivity.

“With economic growth faltering and the Eurozone in crisis,
the Government must implement an effective strategy for promoting growth in the
March 2012 budget.”

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. In
2010 TIGA won two business awards including ‘Trade Association of the Year’
from the Trade Association Forum. In 2011,

TIGA won six business awards
including ‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the Trade Association Forum and
‘Outstanding Organisation’ from the Chartered Management Institute.  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.

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