Ukie in partnership with Tencent is today announcing that the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is joining the 2024 Video Games Growth Programme as a key partner, highlighting the government's commitment to supporting growth for British Business (or the creative industry). The premier business program designed to support the UK’s video games industry is also revealing this year’s cohort featuring 30 founders and leaders of the next generation of UK video games startups and scale ups.
The Ukie Video Games Growth Programme is renowned as the gold standard for business accelerators and scale-ups within the games sector. It offers two tailored pathways: an accelerator track for emerging companies and a scale-up track for high-growth-potential businesses. These programmes provide a comprehensive curriculum covering essential topics such as business strategy, access to funding, management, international market expansion, and more.
This collaboration with DBT marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time the department has directly supported the video game industry though a business accelerator programme. Over the years, Ukie and DBT have provided support to over 1,000 UK games businesses, and the additional support of the DBT will extend these opportunities, enabling companies to develop strategies for substantial growth and expansion.
The 2024 cohort showcases the best of British game talent including Yaldi Games, who aim to enrich life through crafting game worlds infused with actionable knowledge;, Emmy award-winning studio, No Ghost limited; Bonsai Collective - a studio passionate about storytelling and representation; and Dragon Scale Studios, which has successfully transitioned from the UK Games Fund to continue developing their game 'Set Sail!'[ER1]
Nick Poole, CEO of Ukie, commented:
"We are delighted to see the launch of our flagship Video Games Growth Programme to nurture the next generation of UK video game business leaders. The video games industry has the potential to supercharge economic growth by bridging the UK’s creative and technology sectors, and our programme has a proven track record in helping video games businesses achieve their growth ambitions.
Ukie and DBT have worked in partnership on trade missions, including GDC and Gamescom, over the past decade which secured investment for UK Games Companies and assisted their growth. . Over the previous 12 months, our partnership generated over £90 million in business deals for UK companies."
Mark Maslowicz, Vice President, Partnerships, Tencent Games, said:
“We are proud to be supporting the UK’s next generation of leading video games companies alongside Ukie and the Department of Business and Trade. Through this unique programme, this year’s cohort will be able to tap into Tencent’s know how and expertise as well as our unrivalled and global network in the industry. Having been in the UK for over decade, we know very well what an incredible hotbed of gaming talent and creativity this country has. We are excited to play our part in helping to nurture that and give up-and-coming studios the opportunities their work deserves.”
Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports, Gareth Thomas said:
“Growth is at the heart of this government, so I’m delighted we have played a key role in facilitating the Video Games Growth Programme, helping provide essential support and create new internationally successful UK video game developers.
“Supporting this Programme shows our commitment to boosting growth by upskilling and delivering expert advice to the next generation of creative developers in a key industry worth nearly £8 billion."