Scottish games industry has 25% growth surge last year

The Scottish video games industry had a large surge in growth last year, making the video games industry the third largest cluster in the UK, according to industry figures.

Video game trade association Tiga has said the industry’s "development headcount" has grown by 25% in Scotland between December 2014 and March 2016, more than twice the national average, and the second fastest growth in the UK outside of Wales. Scotland’s 85 games companies now employ 1,290 creative staff.

Scotland is now home to 9.4% of the UK’s total games companies and 9.8% of its developers working across the mobile, online, educational and console markets. They make an estimated direct and indirect contribution of nearly £138m to the UK’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP.)

Tiga chief executive Dr Richard Wilson said that the Scottish video games industry now trailed in size between only London and the south east of England. He also said that if it was to continue to grow, more games companies need to benefit from Games Tax Relief and Research and Development Tax Credits.

“We also need to provide start-ups and small studios with better access to finance and business advice." said Wilson, "To achieve this, TIGA has proposed the introduction of a Games Investment Fund. The Games Investment Fund could make grants or loans available to games businesses on a matched funding basis. The Games Investment Fund would also provide a commercial mentoring business advisory service, staffed by industry veterans, for games companies that access its grants or loans."