TIGA, the trade association
representing the UK games industry, today published new information showing
that UK games businesses demonstrate high levels of flexibility and invest in training.
The TIGA survey of over 100 UK games businesses showed that 82 per cent operate
flexible working hours, 66 per cent allow staff to work from home, and 86 per
cent provide training for staff.
Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO,
said:
“UK
game developers and digital publishers are operating in a highly competitive
market. The ability of UK games
businesses to deploy teams flexibly is an important advantage. Equally,
investment in workforce development is vital. The UK games industry has a
highly creative and well qualified development workforce – in a typical studio
around three quarters of the team will be qualified to degree level or the
vocational equivalent. On-going training is crucial, though, so it is
encouraging to see that 86 per cent of studios in our survey are providing
training.”
UK games studios offer a range of benefits to team
members. 38 per cent have some sort
of pension, 35 per cent share in the revenue the games make and 23 per cent are
given a holiday when a project is complete. 32 per cent receive bonuses of some
sort. 48 per cent of studios provide their developers with free games.
Dr Wilson added:
“If
UK studios are to compete effectively then they must recruit, reward and train
staff effectively. Information of the kind published by TIGA today will provide
developers and digital publishers with best practice information and
benchmarking data. Ultimately, this will help games businesses to operate more
effectively and minimise skill shortages and skill gaps.”
Figure 1: policies operated by UK games businesses
Milestone bonus (monetary)
13 per cent
Completion bonus (monetary)
19 per cent
Revenue share
35 per cent
Completion holiday
23 per cent
Private health care
33 per cent
Free games
48 per cent
Pension/salary sacrifice to
fund a pension
38 per cent
Gym membership
8 per cent
Subsidised meals
20 per cent
Flexible working hours
82 per cent
Staff permitted to work at home
66 per cent
Job sharing
12 per cent
Sabbaticals for staff carers
13 per cent
Help to pay for creche
11 per cent
Childcare support
24 per cent
Not stated
6 per cent
Figure 2: the types of training provided by UK games
businesses
On the job training not leading
to qualifications
84 per cent
Formal courses both in-house
and external not leading to qualifications
37 per cent
Professional qualifications (eg
accountancy examinations, CIPD qualifications, etc)
14 per cent
Vocational training leading to
qualifications (NVQs, City & Guilds, Apprenticeships, BTECs, etc)
8 per cent
None of the above
14 per cent
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.