TIGA,
the trade association representing the UK games industry, welcomed a statement
made on October 15th, by Ruth Davidson MSP, the newly elected leader
of the Scottish Conservatives, calling on the Rt Hon George Osborne, Chancellor
of the Exchequer, to look again at TIGA’s proposal for Games Tax Relief.
This
tax break would help UK and Scottish game developers by effectively reducing
the cost of game development in the industry. For details of Ms Davidson’s
statement on the video games development industry, see: http://www.ruthdavidson.co.uk/blog/
Ruth Davidson MSP, said:
“Computer gaming
is a valuable industry in Scotland…But games development is also an incredibly
mobile industry and if we can’t compete with countries such as Canada and
France who aggressively court gaming firms with tax incentives then we will
find our talent going abroad to be where the work is.”
She added:
“I want our
young people to be inspired to learn and gain qualifications because they see a
real opportunity to have a career doing something they love, not to feel that
there is no hope of getting on in the industry without moving to another
country. That is why I am asking the Government to think again and to invest in
the future of this important and creative industry.”
Dr
Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said:
“TIGA
strongly welcomes Ruth Davidson MSP’s decision to write to the Rt Hon George
Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking him to reconsider the case for
TIGA’s Games Tax Relief. The new leader
of the Scottish Conservatives recognises that our industry is not competing on
a level playing field with countries including Canada, France and many states
in the USA which benefit from tax breaks for games production.
“The
UK and Scottish video games development sectors are high technology, R&D
intensive, export focused industries providing highly skilled employment. A
well-targeted Games Tax Relief would create jobs, promote the creation of IP
and give a powerful boost to economic growth in Scotland and throughout the UK.
The Chancellor should heed the advice of the leader of the Scottish
Conservatives and announce his intention to introduce a well-targeted tax break
for the Scottish and UK video games industries in his Autumn Statement.”
Dr
Wilson added:
“There
is now an increasing political consensus in Scotland that the Westminster
Government should deliver a well-targeted tax break for game development. The
SNP Scottish Government, the Labour Party and now the leader of the Scottish
Conservatives support the tax break policy. TIGA now hopes that the Scottish
Liberal Democrats and the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Rt Hon Michael
Moore, will join the common sense majority in Scotland and back Games Tax Relief.”
TIGA,
in addition to leading the campaign for Games Tax Relief, has also advocated:
the establishment of a Creative Content Fund to help Scottish game developers to
access finance more easily; improvements to the SME Tax Credit; and measures to
enhance education and training.
Ends
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. 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.