TIGA publishes Annual Report 2009

TIGA has published its Annual Report 2009, sponsored by Realtime Worlds, highlighting its efforts for the advancement of the development industry in the last year.

Particular efforts detailed by TIGA include its “Games Tax Relief campaign”, which it says “led to the Government’s decision in the March 2010 Budget to allocate £90 million in tax relief for the sector.”

MP and industry sympathiser Tom Watson wrote the report foreword, in which he is keen to praise the association’s 2009-10 efforts.

“Put simply, if TIGA had not compiled the evidence that the UK industry was at a competitive disadvantage, this [tax breaks money allocation] would never have happened,” he says.

“It’s an extraordinary success for the trade body that should be recognised by all the industry.”

Chairman and CSO of Realtime Worlds Ian Hetherington said of the report that she believed it had proven that TIGA real benefits to the industry, and is respected as a trade association.

“The extraordinary effort that the TIGA board expend to create a positive view of our industry with media and government alike has finally paid off with a tangible improvement in awareness of the cultural and economic significance of our industry to the British economy,” he said.

“The industry is now well placed to share in this achievement by supporting TIGA."

TIGA Chairman and CEO Jason Kingsley was also very positive about TIGA and the industry around it.

“TIGA is nothing without the developers, outsourcers, university and education providers that make up its membership. TIGA exists to serve your interests. We are proud to have advanced your interests in 2009. We will be zealous in working for you throughout 2010,” he said.

TIGA CEO Richard Wilson said he believed considerable progress was made with the tax break announcement.

“We generated substantial media coverage for the industry. We delivered new and improved services for our members,”he said.

“I would like to thank the TIGA team for their hard work in securing these achievements and to TIGA’s members for their support.”