UKIE: Tax breaks are here, but there’s still work to be done

UKIE says neither the industry nor the government can rest easy now that tax credits have been introduced for games developers – more support needs to be built on this long-awaited foundation.

Last week, the organisation launched the new UKIE Policy Manifesto during its largest ever Westminster Political Reception at London’s Millbank Tower.

The document, which you can read below, outlines UKIE’s plans on how the UK games sector and government can work together to build on the introduction of games tax breaks and the new Computing curriculum introduced last week.

The trade body highlighted three key areas where more action is needed:

Support to help UK games companies grow across the UK

UKIE has suggested introducing regulatory stability, better infrastructure and a long-term roadmap about where games businesses will be able to access public funding. It also calls for support offered to the games industry to be proportionate to that offered to other screen industries.

Promotion of the UK games industry abroad

Something UKIE already invests heavily in, with its UK stand at Gamescom being a prime example. The trade body wants support in better demonstrating the UK’s position as one of the world’s leading games development markets, highlighting the funding and other forms of aid available here. This will also encompass helping more UK businesses establish partnership with and release products in overseas markets.

Building a strong and diverse talent pipeline

As well as support for the new Computing curriculum – based on recommendations from the Next Gen Skills report – UKIE wants to see more investment in careers guidance. It also wants to see the Skills Investment Fund extended and, ideally, made permanent.

"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," said UKIE CEO Jo Twist.

"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 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 paper and briefings to MPs to continue our push to make this the best country in the world to make and sell games."

You can read more in the new UKIE Policy Manifesto, which was first released last week, below: