The Ukie ‘Think Global, Create Local’ report outlines the regional economic impact of the UK video games industry.
Ukie, the UK video game industry trade body, often undertakes research. This is to help the body to best advise its members and policymakers, and to assist with lobbying for the industry as a whole.
Its latest report, ‘Think Global, Create Local’, examines the regional impact of the industry on the UK’s economy. Building on BFI’s 2018 ‘Screen Business‘ report, which showed that the UK games companies directly employed full-time roles and collectively generated £2.87b, Ukie examined the impact of the games industry on the regional economy.
Spoiler alert: London isn’t the only show in town.
Admittedly, four of those eight games hubs mentioned are in the South East, within a stone’s throw of the M25. But it’s still heartening to see the likes of Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle Upon Tyne and Leamington Spa represented among the biggest video games industry hubs.
That’s backed up by figures that show 55% of roles are based outside of London and the South East, and that Scotland generates £131m GVA (Gross Value Added) annually.
Ukie Think Global, Create Local – Key findings:
- Eight games hubs contributed over £60m in GVA to their local economies: Edinburgh, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Leamington Spa, Crawley and Horsham, Manchester, Guildford, Slough and Heathrow, and London.
- 55% of game development roles are based outside of London and the South East.
- The North West, East of England, West Midlands, Scotland and the South East all employ over 1,000 FTEs in development studio roles.
- London’s game sector is a billion-pound industry, generating £1.4bn in GVA for the economy and directly employing over 5,100 FTE roles
- 23 towns and cities across the UK are home to more than 20 local game companies.
- Scotland is home to a thriving games industry, with three major hubs generating £131m in GVA for the nation.
- The North East games industry has the biggest impact on the local economy outside of London, contributing £1.90 of every £1,000 of regional GVA.
- 99.5% of UK games companies are officially SMEs (Small to Medium Enterprises, employing less than 250 people), which collectively contribute £1.6bn in GVA.
- £339m in GVA is generated by micro-businesses of less than 10 employees, representing 13.7% of the industry total, and employing 3,664 FTEs.
- The very largest games companies, each employing over 250 people, are hugely important to the UK economy, alone contributing £840m in GVA and employing over 4,200 FTEs, or 26% of the industry workforce.
You can read the full report on the Ukie website.
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