Ukie responds to the Industrial Strategy

Submitted – 4th December 2024

Ukie has submitted evidence to the government’s new industrial strategy, Invest 2035, outlining the steps needed to support the UK video games industry, which contributes £6 billion to the economy and employs over 76,000 people. Ukie called for greater investment in creativity, specifically urging an increase in funding for the UK Games Fund and the new content fund, highlighting the need for grants of £150,000 or more to support start-ups and new intellectual property. The submission also emphasized the importance of making the Video Games Expenditure Credit (VGEC) more competitive by including live service games and expanding eligibility to co-development projects.

Additionally, Ukie stressed the importance of empowering talent through initiatives like a Digital Creativity GCSE and reforms to visa processes to help attract and retain global talent. Regional growth was also highlighted as crucial, with 58% of industry jobs based outside London. Ukie called for investment in regional skills development and infrastructure. To support long-term growth, Ukie recommended revising outdated policies, creating a UK Video Games Council, and expanding R&D tax reliefs for cross-sector innovation. Ukie’s message to the government is clear: with the right reforms and investment, the UK can maintain its position as a global leader in the games industry.