UK games industry threatened by “skills crisis”

Ukie, trade body for the games and interactive entertainment industry in the United Kingdom, has argued that the country has a severe shortage of appropriately trained individuals in the industry.

According to its manifesto, the sector is suffering from the “cost of inaction” in two main ways. These are the “acute skills crisis” which is stopping roles from being filled and increasing momentum in the industry, and the lack of traditional funding options for smaller studios.

As such, there is an estimated £133million in gross valued added being missed out on. Additionally, other countries like Australia, Canada, France and Ireland have focused their efforts on video game tax relief initiatives to make them a more prospective option for foreign investment.

Ukie’s goals are to “ensure we have the right education and skills provision available to develop the talent needed for businesses to thrive”, “develop an accessible finance and funding ecosystem which enables small and medium sized developers to grow”, and “maintain a smart and stable regulatory framework which encourages entrepreneurship and investment”.

Specifically tackling the “skills shortage”, Ukie would like to see the “[reintroduction of] a skills investment fund dedicated to the games industry with a games specific delivery body”.

Acting as a bridge between education and industry, an industry-specific skills body would communicate with companies to discern what are the skills that allow professionals to adapt and thrive in a shifting landscape.

Bodies that are tailored for the film and television industries in the UK are not suitable for those looking to work in the games industry, and Ukie argued that it is high time for something like this in the mid-late 2020s.

The trade body pointed out the pervasive problem of a low number of entry level positions in the industry, adding that there is “a blockage in studios in terms of progression as they compete for a limited pool of senior level talent”.

A Skills Investment Fund would support those from an underrepresented background in the games industry with mentorship and outreach programs, as well as allow companies to upskill existing employees for the next step in their career.

“If the next Government is serious about growing our creative industries and adequately preparing young people for the jobs of the future, it must work with us and take action now. The cost of inaction is too high,” it concluded. The manifesto in its entirety can be found on the Ukie website.

In other gaming news, Cloud Imperium Games shared that sci-fi combat sim Squadron 42 is now in the “polishing phase” after all of the features have been added.