UK industry growing again after three year stall

The UK's games industry had shuckjed off the effects of recent recessions to move back into growth mode, according to trade body TIGA.

In a new report called 'Making Games in the UK Today: A Census of the UK Developer and Digital Publishing Sector', TIGA said the UK's development scene grew by 4% in 2012. The growth follows a three year decline in employment rates.

Of this growth, creative staff grew from 8,888 to 9,224; jobs indirectly supported by studios rose from 16,250 to 16,864; and studio numbers rose from 329 to 448.

Investment grew, too, from £411 million in 2011 to £427 million in 2012, and tax revenues generated by the development sector went from £376 million to £400 million, increasing contribution to UK Gross Domestic Product increased from £912 million to £947 million.

“The UK economy may be on the verge of a triple dip recession but the recovery in the UK games development sector has taken off," said Tiga CEO Richard Wilson. "Employment, investment and start-ups are up. The games development industry is growing again."

Wilson said the growing mobile and tablet markets, proliferation of start-ups following major closures, and the Games Tax Relief scheme have all helped foster the turn around.

Tiga's report is based on a survey of UK games businesses, with assistance from Games Investor Consulting.