The UK Games Industry Needs to Invest in Skills Development

The UK games industry is thriving, but it still faces numerous challenges, particularly in terms of skills shortages and talent development. Despite the success of the Video Game Tax Relief scheme, which provided £197 million in tax breaks to game studios last year, the industry is not adequately addressing its skills challenges. The scheme was initially designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises, but the majority of the funding has gone to large companies. To address this, a 2% levy on companies that claim over £2 million in tax relief could be implemented to raise £3 million for skills development. This could fund hundreds of internship positions and support education, skills shortages, and diverse leadership development. The UK film and high-end television industries have successfully implemented similar skills funds, and it is time for the games industry to follow suit. The sector needs a shared future skills agenda, and organizations like Into Games are working to create a Games Future Skills Agenda and a complementary Games Skills Fund. The industry must work together to address its skills challenges and ensure a sustainable future for the UK games industry.