Justin Tomlinson MP has highlighted the successful partnership between the Government and the video games industry during a keynote speech at the annual reception of trade body, Ukie.
Ukie, in partnership with Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft, hosted its largest ever Westminster Reception to announce a range of policy recommendations and to celebrate the cultural and economic importance of the UK games sector. The event was attended by more than 200 members, MPs, Peers, policy makers and industry figures from a range of creative industry sectors.
During his speech Justin, who was recently appointed the PPS to Ed Vaizey MP, discussed the importance of the UK games sector as a key engine for delivering sustained economic growth, noting the Government's commitment to the sector, following the introduction of tax breaks (championed by Justin in his former role as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Video Games) earlier this year, and the introduction of the new Computing curriculum earlier this week. In addition, Justin talked about his personal love for video games and how is incredibly proud of the industry's growth in the UK, particularly since 2010.
Created with input from Ukie's members, the Ukie's Policy Manifesto calls for action on three headline areas of policy:
1) Support to help UK games companies grow across the UK – including regulatory stability, better infrastructure and a long term roadmap where games businesses can access public funding and support proportionate to the other screen industries
2) Promotion of the UK games industry abroad – demonstrating that the UK is one of the leading videogame industries in the world, including a focus on funding, fully supporting and working with industry on trade and investment activity such as trade missions and helping UK businesses to reach overseas marketplaces
3) Building a strong and diverse talent pipeline – including supporting the new Computing Curriculum, investing in careers guidance and extending and making permanent the Skills Investment Fund
Justin Tomlinson MP said: "The UK games industry is going from strength to strength, recovering some of the ground lost to other countries over the last few years. This growth has been helped very much by the hard work put in by Ukie and the major policy initiatives introduced by this government, such as a new computing curriculum and the recent introduction of production tax relief. However, more can of course be done and in my new role working closely with Ed Vaizey, I very much welcome Ukie's new Policy Manifesto and look forward to discussing its recommendations with Jo and her team in more detail over the coming months."
Dr Jo Twist, CEO of Ukie, said: "We were delighted by the introduction of games industry tax relief earlier this year but quickly realised that it is essential that we maximise the opportunities that the new scheme presents. We have therefore spent the last six months speaking to our members from across the breadth of our sector about the measures that they would like to see the UK government introduce to truly put the UK's games industry on the global map. Our Policy Manifesto outlines our members priority asks and we will be following this up with more detailed papers and briefings to MPs to continue our push to make this the best country in the world to make and sell games.
Rob Cooper, UK Managing Director of Ubisoft, said: "Events like these are vital in showing the significance of the UK games industry, both culturally and economically, to a high profile audience of policy makers and other VIPs. We are delighted to support this year's event and Ukie's work generally in giving a voice to UK games businesses of all sizes from multinationals like Ubisoft, to smaller developers, making and selling some of the most vibrantly creative interactive entertainment in the world."
