TIGA, the
trade association representing the UK games industry, urged the Coalition
Government to support the video games development sector as part of a policy to
back an export led recovery. TIGA made the comments following the latest Office
of National Statistics figures on trade, showing that the UK’s trade deficit in
goods and services with the rest of the world remained at £4.5 billion in July,
the same figure as June.
Dr
Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said:
“The latest ONS figures show that
rebalancing the UK economy towards private sector export led growth is proving
to be a real challenge. The UK video game development sector is a sector with a
pronounced tendency to export. A typical developer creates 45 per cent of their
turnover through the export of games.
“The Government should look again
at tax measures which will enable the UK video games sector to grow, such as
Games Tax Relief, enhanced R&D tax credits, and measures to improve access
to finance for early stage games development studios, including a Creative
Content Fund. With the right Government support, the UK games development
sector can contribute towards an export led recovery.”
Governments around the world are
investing in the video game development sector. For example, according to Develop
(http://www.develop-online.net/news/38600/Tax-breaks-to-cost-Quebec-118m-in-2011)
Quebec’s substantial tax break which reimburses 37.5 per cent on production
costs has helped to grow the province’s game development sector by
approximately 700 per cent since 2003. In 2011, Quebec is expected to spend
CA$117 million on the tax break.
Jason Kingsley, TIGA Chairman and CEO and Creative
Director at Rebellion, said:
“The Coalition Government is
right to want an export led recovery. The UK game development sector can help
to play a part in achieving this goal, provided that we have the right fiscal
policies in place. A correctly targeted tax break for games production, improved
R&D tax credits and a Creative Content Fund would help more games
developers to access finance, grow their businesses and export.”
Ends
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. TIGA
was awarded ‘Trade Association of the Year’ and the ‘Member Recruitment Award’
at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2010. In 2011, TIGA won a further four awards at
the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards, including ‘Trade Association
of the Year’ for the second consecutive year.
TIGA has been voted a finalist in the CMI Management and Leadership
Awards 2011 in the ‘Outstanding Organisation (SME)’ category. Dr Richard
Wilson, TIGA CEO, has been voted a finalist in the ‘Outstanding Leader’
category. TIGA was also named as a finalist in the 2010 Chartered
Management Institute (CMI) National Management and Leadership Awards in the
category of ‘The Outstanding Organisation of the Year Award (SME)’. TIGA is an
‘Investors in People’ accredited organisation.
TIGA is the trade
association representing the UK’s games industry. Our vision is to make the UK the best place
in the world to do games business. Our mission is to fight for the interests of
game developers. To achieve our vision and mission we focus on the delivery of
three strategic objectives: effective political representation, profile raising
and helping our members commercially. 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.