TIGA, the network of game developers and digital publishers, said today that the promotion of clusters of high technology businesses could help to increase more start-ups and help to build more sustainable businesses. TIGA made the comments following a report in the Financial Times showing that the net rate at which companies are created in the UK is half the European average. The net difference between companies created and those closing rose 0.7 per cent from 2007 to 2011 compared with 1.4 per cent across 11 other EU member states.
A strategy to foster business clusters, particularly high technology clusters, could effectively help start-up and small enterprises. In the case of the games industry, there are creative clusters of games studios across the UK including Birmingham, Brighton, Cambridge, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guildford, Leamington Spa, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford, and Sheffield.
Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:
“The UK can promote business clusters and boost start-ups through the provision of more business incubators, strengthening local industry and university links, building connections with finance providers and providing effective business mentoring. Adopting this approach could help to increase more start-ups and help to build more sustainable high technology and creative businesses, including games businesses.”
ABOUT TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the video 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.
TIGA focuses 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.