LONDON, May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TIGA, the network
for games developers and digital publishers and the trade
association representing the UK video games industry, has published
new data showing that approximately 80 per cent of the game
development sector's workforce are employed outside of London, in a range of different regions.
London reclaimed its position
as the region with the largest proportion of the UK's development
workforce, pushing the South-East back into second place.
TIGA's research reveals the following information as of
December 31st 2021:
UK
regions
|
2021 percentage
share of UK development workforce
|
London
|
21.9%
|
South East
|
20.4%
|
North West
|
11.7%
|
Scotland
|
10.8%
|
West
Midlands
|
10%
|
East of
England
|
6.5%
|
East
Midlands
|
5.7%
|
Yorkshire &
Humber
|
4.9%
|
North East
|
4.2%
|
South West
|
2.6%
|
Wales
|
0.7%
|
Northern
Ireland
|
0.6%
|
Dr Richard Wilson, OBE,
TIGA CEO, said:
"London regained the top spot
for headcount in the games industry in 2021, driving the South-East
back into second place. London's
headcount growth has been supported by a massive increase in
start-ups: 37 per cent of all UK game start-ups during the period
April 2020 to December 2021 were based in London.
"Almost 80 per cent of all games development staff in the UK are
employed outside of London.
Approximately one-fifth of development staff are located in the
South East of England, while the
third and fourth largest centres of games development by headcount
are the North West of England and
Scotland, respectively. In
percentage terms the strongest headcount growth over the period
April 2020 to December 2021 was found in the three smallest
regions: Northern Ireland (55 per
cent growth), Wales (43 per cent)
and the South West (65 per cent).
"The video games industry can contribute to the levelling up
agenda. The sector provides high skilled employment in clusters
throughout the UK. We can increase high skilled employment in games
clusters across the UK by strengthening Video Games Tax Relief,
introducing a Video Games Investment Fund, and developing
industry-university links, including via TIGA University
Accreditation."
Jason Kingsley OBE, TIGA Chairman and CEO and Creative
Director at Rebellion, said:
"TIGA's research demonstrates how the video games industry is
well positioned to support regional economic growth. My own
experience at Rebellion confirms this point, with our studios
contributing to economic growth in Liverpool, Oxford, Warwick and Yorkshire By enhancing Video Games
Tax Relief, improving access to finance and augmenting skills, we
can strengthen the UK's video games clusters and therefore support
the UK's overall economy."
Notes to editors
Research methodology
Games Investor Consulting in conjunction with TIGA and its
partners conducted surveys concluding in July 2008, September
2010, November 2011,
December 2012, December 2013, December
2014, March 2016, November 2017, November
2018, April 2020 and
December 2021 of all known British
games companies involved in the creation of games (including
developers, publishers, publisher studios, service companies and
broadcasters with games divisions). Assessments of every database
entry are made on a company-by-company basis with strict vetting
and verification rules to ensure each entry is discrete (to prevent
duplication via subsidiary or parent companies) and confirmed to be
active in games development. The survey counts staff working in
development and development support roles in games studios, games
publishers and development service companies. A broad array of
additional data is also captured including studio location, primary
platform focus and company ownership structure as well as company
start-ups and exits/closures.
About TIGA
TIGA is the trade association for the UK video games industry.
Since 2010, TIGA has won 28 business awards and commendations and
has been successfully accredited as an Investors in People
organisation four times. Our vision is to make the UK the best
place in the world to develop video games. Our core purpose is to
strengthen the games development and digital publishing sector. To
this end, we focus on four strategic objectives:
- influencing Government policy via effective political
representation;
- raising the profile of our industry to influence public
policy;
- enhancing education and skills through our accreditation
programme, the TIGA Games Education Awards and our education
conferences; and
- promoting best practice through our membership services,
including the TIGA STAR Employer Award and the TIGA Games Industry
Awards.
Get in touch:
Tel: 0845 468 2330
Email: info@tiga.org
Web: www.tiga.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tigamovement
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TIGAMovement
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/tiga
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SOURCE TIGA