Activision Blizzard to Open new Studio in North of England
TIGA CEO says: "We have the talent, we have the tax breaks and now we are winning the investment"
TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, said today that its successful campaign for Games Tax Relief was already bearing fruit. TIGA made the comments following the news that Activision Blizzard would be opening up a new studio focusing on mobile games development in the north of England [1]. TIGA said that Activision Blizzard's decision was a massive vote of confidence in the UK games industry and a vindication of its long running campaign for Games Tax Relief.
Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said:
"This is a massive vote of confidence in the UK games industry and demonstrates that TIGA's successful campaign for Games Tax Relief is already bearing fruit. We have the talent, we have the tax breaks and now we are winning the investment. This is terrific day for the UK games industry, for people looking to work in our high technology, high skilled industry, and for the UK economy. We are back in the game."
TIGA persuaded the last Labour Government to back Games Tax Relief in the March 2010 Budget and successfully won cross-party support for the measure during the 2010 General Election campaign. However, Games Tax Relief was dropped by the Coalition Government in the June 2010 Budget. TIGA continued to campaign for Games Tax Relief and successfully convinced the Coalition Government to back the policy in the March 2012 Budget.
TIGA predicts that Games Tax Relief will enable the UK games industry to compete on a more level international playing field and it will secure 4,660 jobs and £188 million in investment over five years.
About TIGA
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK's games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. Since 2010, TIGA has won 11 business awards and has been nominated a finalist for 9 other awards. In 2010 TIGA won two business awards including 'Trade Association of the Year' from the Trade Association Forum. In 2011, TIGA won eight business awards including 'Trade Association of the Year' from the Trade Association Forum, 'Outstanding Organisation' from the Chartered Management Institute and two Global Business Excellence Awards, including 'Outstanding Marketing Campaign'. Richard Wilson won the 'Leadership Award' from the Trade Association Forum and the 'Outstanding Leader' award from the Chartered Management Institute. In 2012, Richard Wilson wonthe IoD's East of England Director of the Year Award. TIGA is an Investors in People organisation.
TIGA's vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. We focus on three sets of activities: political representation, generating media coverage and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities.