UK games industry

TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, said today that it was good that the Scottish Government recognised the importance of digital businesses and that it was aiming for the uptake of broadband in Scotland to be the highest of the UK nations by 2015. TIGA also suggested that relief on rates and rents for high technology businesses, backing for business incubators and the provision of mentors to help start-up firms would help support Scotland’s digital sectors.

TIGA made the comments following the publication by the Scottish Government of A digital ambition for Scotland on October 22 ^nd 2010. The Report summarises the Government's plans and ambitions for the digital economy, and will be followed by a more detailed strategy and action plan in the next few months. The Report states that the rate of broadband uptake by people in Scotland should be at or above the UK average by 2013, and should be highest among the UK nations by 2015.

Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:

“It is good that the Scottish Government recognises the importance of digital businesses to Scotland’s future economic well being. Access to broadband could be increasingly important for education and training.

“Provision of high speed broadband could also help the Scottish video games industry. The trend towards digital distribution means that there is a need for increased bandwith if more people in Scotland are to be able to play and download high quality video games.

“Scotland already has a number of highly successful digital businesses. The Scottish Government has an opportunity to build on these success stories, not just through infrastructure improvements but also via imaginative action to create a friendly business environment. This could include relief on rates and rent for high technology businesses, including video games developers, support for business incubators and the provision of mentors to help start-up companies survive and grow.

“In terms of tax policy, the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament should seek to encourage Westminster to introduce Games Tax Relief and to enhance the existing R&D tax credits. These measures would provide a powerful boost to the Scottish video games sector.”

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Notes to editors:

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. TIGA has also been 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's vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business.  We focus on three sets of activities: political representation, generating media coverage and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members.  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.

To view the report and all supporting documents, please follow this link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ArtsCultureSport/arts/DigitalAmbition/DigitalAmbitionScotland

For further information, please contact Eva Field, TIGA PR Manager on: 07814 039 983, or email eva@tiga.org .