TIGA, the trade associationrepresenting the UK games industry, says work is needed in British businesses
and the creative industries to repair the damage caused by the recession.
TIGA said that it would work with the
Government to ensure that the forthcoming Games Tax Relief would help studios
of all sizes developing games for all types of platforms, including online,
mobile and tablet developers. Although the UK games
industry currently invests £411 million per annum, a report by Nesta has shown
that investment in innovation by British businesses has fallen by £24bn since
the recession began.
This came after a
prolonged period of innovation stagnation which, from 2000-08, ran at just 12
per cent of private sector output. Nesta showed that innovation in investment
fell by £7.4bn between 2008 and 2009 and then dropped by £17bn from 2009 to
2011.TIGA,
the trade association to have consistently campaigned in public and in private
for tax relief for games development, said NESTA’s research showed why it was
vital to give developers an incentive.
Games Tax Relief, TIGA said, would increase employment, innovation and
investment in the sector and would help to power the economic recovery. TIGA secured Games Tax Relief in the previous Labour Government’s final Budget
in March 2010, but it was dropped in the June 2010 Budget before being
resurrected in 2012.
Dr Richard Wilson TIGA CEO stated:
“Innovation is vital
for a healthy economy. Tax relief for the video games sector will increase
employment, innovation and investment in the UK video games industry and our
research suggests that it could generate £188 million in investment expenditure
by studios.
“Tax breaks for games
production will ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of video game
development and it will help to make this decade infinity more encouraging than
the last. It will also help to rebalance the UK economy away from an
over-reliance on financial services towards a high skill, R&D intensive and
export focused industry.
“TIGA’s priorities are to ensure that Games
Tax Relief is effectively designed, easy to use and
provides for generous levels of relief, helps studios of all shapes and sizes
developing games for all types of platforms and benefits online and mobile
games developers as well as traditional box developers.”
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 11 business awards and has been nominated a
finalist for 9 other awards. In 2010 TIGA won two business awards including
‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the Trade Association Forum.
In 2011, TIGA
won eight business awards including ‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the
Trade Association Forum, ‘Outstanding Organisation’ from the Chartered
Management Institute and two Global Business Excellence Awards, including
‘Outstanding Marketing Campaign’.
Richard Wilson won the ‘Leadership Award’ from the Trade Association Forum
and the ‘Outstanding Leader’ award from the Chartered Management Institute. In
2012, Richard Wilson wonthe IoD’s East of England Director of the Year Award. 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.