TIGA publishes Annual Report 2011

TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, today published its Annual Report 2011. The Report highlights TIGA's work in championing the games industry in political circles, profiling the industry in the media, and providing services for its members. The Report underlines TIGA's decisive role in winning Games Tax Relief for the UK video games developer and digital publishing sector.

TIGA's research indicates that the tax relief could secure over 4,660 highly skilled jobs and £188 million in investment over five years, while also enabling the games development industry to compete on a more level international playing field.

The Report also shows that 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.
• Organised a series of successful networking events including: the TIGA 10th Anniversary Party; the Casual Games Conference; and the Smartphone and Tablet Conference.
• Distributed an information booklet on the prevention of photo-sensitive epilepsy to all TIGA members to promote adoption of best practices in photo-sensitive epilepsy prevention among all UK games developers.
• Secured grants from UKT&I to enable 43 games businesses attend overseas trade shows.
• Published benchmarking information on training and salaries in the games industry.
• Organised the TIGA Self-Publishing Group to share best practice on publishing video games.
• Operated the TIGA HR Group to disseminate best practice about personnel issues.
• Developed a network of businesses providing discounts for TIGA members.
• Provided a Commercial Collaboration Service to connect members with business partners.
• achieved positive national media coverage for the games industry including, the Guardian, the Independent; The Sun, The News of the World, the Metro, the BBC News, The Scotsman, The Courier, The Huffington Post and Radio 5 Live.
• Operated the TIGA HR Group to disseminate best practice about personnel issues.
• Operated an Information Request Service to provide members with responses to business queries.

The Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP says in the Report:

"As a Government Minister, and more recently from the Opposition benches, I have seen TIGA campaign creatively, tenaciously and effectively on behalf of video games developers. I hope the tax credit which their lobbying has secured will provide a real boost to the UK industry."

John Whittingdale OBE MP, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, also contributes to the Report, saying:

"I very much welcome the tax credit that is being introduced for video games development production. I pay tribute to TIGA for playing a leading role in raising the profile of the games industry in Parliament and for playing a critical role in lobbying for this tax change. In particular, I was pleased to be able to take Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, with an all-party delegation of MPs to see David Gauke MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, in order to make the case directly for tax relief for the video games development sector."

Ella Romanos, TIGA board member and MD of Remode, said:

"TIGA has clearly demonstrated its value to the UK games industry this year, particularly through winning the Games Tax Relief which will benefit studios and the UK industry as a whole. Richard and team work extremely hard to provide benefits to TIGA members and the industry as a whole, and should be recognised for the voice they give the UK industry nationally and internationally."

Oli Christie, TIGA board member and MD of Neon Play, said:

"Without TIGA, the UK games industry would be in a considerable worse place and they work tirelessly to benefit its members. The proposed tax break will be a game changer for the UK games industry and help UK studios compete on a more level playing field. Richard Wilson should be commended for all his hard work and determination to keep this on the agenda during tough economic times and hopefully it will all now pay off. It should be an awesome year for games studios in this country."

Jason Kingsley, Chairman of TIGA and CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion Studios, said:

"TIGA is nothing without the developers, digital publishers, outsourcers and education providers that make up our membership. TIGA ultimately exists to serve its members' interests. We are deeply honoured to have this responsibility. TIGA continues to make improvements to its processes, products and services to meet the needs of its expanding membership. On behalf of the TIGA board, I would like to thank all of our members and friends for supporting TIGA."

Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:

"TIGA has made significant advances over the last year. We secured a multi-million pound tax break for our sector. We generated substantial positive media coverage for the industry. We delivered new and improved services for our members. I would like to thank the TIGA team for their superb work in securing these achievements, the TIGA board for their commitment to TIGA's work, and to TIGA's members for their support."

A copy of the Annual Report Summary 2011 is available from Suzi Stephenson at: suzi@tiga.org