The Scottish Affairs Committee's 20 ways to help the UK games industry

11. The measures announced in the 2010 Budget will have a positive impact on start-ups and small and medium sized businesses, and we welcome the Government's actions. However, these proposals are not specific to the video games industry. We recommend that proposals for more targeted support be set out by the Government in its response to this Report. Those proposals should be accompanied by a clear and costed action plan.

12. The innovative practices in place at the University of Abertay, such as workplace simulation, the level support given to graduates starting their own business and the level of cooperation with local industry should be replicated across the UK. We recommend that the Government set out in its response to this Report how it will develop ways of encouraging the adoption of these practices nationwide.

13. The shortage of graduates adequately qualified to sustain the video games industry in the UK is matter of real concern, as is the unsuitability of many self-proclaimed video games courses. There needs to be more focus on the hard skills needed for the industry, such as mathematics and computer science. Other important factors necessary to ensure graduates are both trained for industry and able to find a job, are the levels of engagement between higher education institutions and industry, and the incentives for industry to take on talented graduates as trainees. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills should be able to demonstrate that it is aware of these problems and has proposals to address them effectively. We recommend that the Government's strategy for addressing such issues is set out in its response to this Report.

14. The £5 million prototype scheme, to be run by Abertay University, is an excellent example of support targeted towards a priority issue for the video games industry. We expect the Government to monitor the progress of the scheme, and if it is successful, to explain how it intends to ensure that it can be replicated nationwide.

15. Ensuring schools and universities provide the right education and training is beneficial to graduates, businesses and the wider economy. We support the Government's decision to commission an independent review of education and training in the UK video games sector. We expect the response to this Report to set out a timetable for the Government's analysis of the review and for developing its action plan for working with the Scottish Government on the recommendations.

16. The skills shortage in the UK industry is compounded by a brain drain to countries offering more generous incentives to the video games industry. If the UK is to retain its position as a global player in the industry, efforts must be made to halt this brain drain. We recommend that the Government, in its response to this Report, outline how it will work with universities and the industry to ensure talented graduates remain in the UK.

17. The video games companies face significant challenges in accessing finance. More needs to be done to increase the understanding of the financial cycle for video games companies amongst banks and private equity funders. The Government has an important role to play in providing support to businesses in attracting finance. We invite the Government to outline in its response to our Report how this business support is being tailored to video games companies.

18. Scotland is open for business, and it is vital that this message is publicised. We see the need for a more targeted marketing strategy to attract investment to Scotland, and recommend that the Government work with the Scottish Executive and trade associations to formulate and implement such a strategy relating to the video games industry in particular. We invite it to set out in its response to this Report how it intends to do this. 19. This is a "golden age of opportunity" for the video games industry, with small businesses able to access global audiences. It is imperative that guidance and support is available for these companies. We recommend that the Minister for Culture, Communication and Creative Industries holds regular meetings with companies from the video games industry to develop and provide this support. We recommend that the Government, in its response to this Report, set out its strategy for engagement with the video games industry and its underlying criteria to enable the video games industry to secure Government support.

20. Although there are personal networks within in the video games industry, more formal representation at regional level could provide stronger support for companies. We see an argument for a trade body representing companies in Scotland, with the UK Government, trade associations and games companies all involved in its creation. We invite the Government to set out its action plan for such a body in its response to our Report.