TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, said today that the UK Coalition Government needed to be alert to the incipient and existing competition from other countries towards the UK games industry. TIGA made the comments following publication of a report by Forfas and a statement by the Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, that Ireland intended to grow the game industry in Ireland. The Forfas report suggests that if the right policy measures are adopted then the Irish games industry could increase from around 2,000 employees today to 4,500 by 2015.
The Forfas report, The Games Sector in Ireland: An Action Plan for Growth (http://www.forfas.ie/newsevents/news/title,8427,en.php) identifies six key opportunities for Ireland:
- Developing an international cluster – stimulating connectedness between related sectors, nationally and internationally.
- Enhancing skills and experience – addressing short term needs and building a continuous feed-stock of creative, technological and commercial capabilities.
- Accelerating growth in creative content development – attracting and developing the talent pool – creating the dynamic environment.
- Building international visibility – raising Ireland's visibility as a vibrant location for the games sector.
- Driving R&D and innovation – incentivising innovation within Irish based firms, anticipating future needs.
- Delivering next generation broadband – underpinning future growth with the provision of widely available, competitively priced advanced broadband services to homes and businesses
Significantly, the report suggests the need for Ireland to determine the scope, rationale and benefit of introducing a new financial instrument/relief to incentivise creative content development.
Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said:
“Although Ireland has been through a wrenching economic downturn, it already has a very credible business proposition in place: a corporation tax rate of 12.5 per cent, an R&D Tax Credit and a well-educated and flexible workforce.
“Ireland has quite sensibly recognised that an opportunity exists to grow their video games industry. Unfortunately, while governments in Ireland and elsewhere around the world are taking steps to support their games development sectors, the UK Coalition Government lacks a clear strategy to help grow our own sector.
“The Government should support the growth of the UK games industry through the introduction of a well-targeted tax break for games production; expanding the scope of the R&D Tax Credits to include the costs of premises, IP protection and design; and by establishing a Creative Content Fund to co-finance approved game production projects.”
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.