The UK is open for business
What’s on the UK Stand Wednesday 17 August: 10.00am: Pastries & fruit sponsored by GlobalStep (exhibitors & their guests) and Juice Bar by TAKEOFF 3.00pm: Afternoon Tea sponsored by Pole To Win (exhibitors & their guests) 6.00pm – 8.00pm: Networking drinks reception hosted by PlayStack (open to all) Thursday 18 August: 10.00am: Pastries & fruit sponsored by GlobalStep (exhibitors & their guests) and Juice Bar by TAKEOFF 3.00pm: Afternoon Tea sponsored by Pole To Win (exhibitors & their guests)
Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO of Ukie, speaking at the Ukie Westminster Games industry VIP reception
The UK’s decision to vote to leave the EU in June’s Referendum has posed lots of questions, but one thing that hasn’t changed is that the UK’s games industry remains very much open for business. The UK remains the home to some of the most creatively brilliant and technologically innovative games makers in the world. Here are the top three reasons why the UK is still the best place in the world to make and sell games: 1. Talent, innovation and creativity The UK has a proven history of making some of the biggest and best globallyrecognised games titles, and is the European leader in developing mobile apps. Our home-grown titles include console giants Grand Theft Auto and the Batman: Arkham series, mobile phenomenon Monument Valley, and Indie classics such as Elite: Dangerous and No Man’s Sky. We now have over 2,000 games companies in the UK, from the smallest
start-ups to large multinational brands working across console, mobile apps, online, PC, eSports, VR and AR.
for the jobs of tomorrow right from primary education.
2. A world leading business environment
3. One of the world’s biggest digital marketplaces
The UK is a home to a business, regulatory and tax environment that supports games companies. We have a diverse talent pool of games-makers, fantastic links to international trade partners, world-class educational courses, and generous tax breaks.
Games were the biggest grossing entertainment sector of 2015, outselling the total revenues of music and video. We were also the fastest growing sector, with our sales revenues showing a 10% year on year increase according to the Entertainment Retailers Association.
10.00am: Pastries & fruit sponsored by GlobalStep (exhibitors & their guests) and Juice Bar by TAKEOFF
Our Video Games Tax Relief has been in place since 2014, and offers 20% credit back on development costs, across all platforms and business models. The relief has supported over 435 projects since 2014, paying out over £45.9m to UK development teams.
UK consumer spend on games products in 2015 was £4.19bn, up 5% on the previous year. This was fuelled by mobile games as the market increased to £664m, the biggest leap in consumer spend.
Coffee sponsored by Amiqus
The UK invests in the next generation of games talent, with over 100 UKwide universities providing over 300 specialist games making courses. Computing has also replaced the outdated ICT curriculum, meaning we are preparing the learners of today
Ukie is committed to ensuring that the UK remains the best place to make and sell games in a post-Brexit world. How we do that is laid out in our Blueprint for Growth report around 5 key areas including funding, cluster growth, a stable regulatory environment, support for cultural production, access to markets, talent, and investor confidence.
Exclusive features inside: Making London games capital of the world >> page 04
6.00pm – 8.00pm: Networking drinks reception hosted by FuturLab (open to all) including UK Game of the Show Award presentation, sponsored by Cubic Motion
Why I became a Video Games Ambassador >> page 04
UK game of the show award 2016 >> page 04
Friday 19 August:
3.00pm: Afternoon Tea sponsored by Pole To Win (exhibitors & their guests)
Coasters sponsored by TAKEOFF
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Come and visit us in Hall 3.2 at Stand No. C015 – D014