CBI chief says Dundee can still be big game player
The computer games sector in Dundee will survive the collapse of Realtime Worlds, the head of the UK's leading business organisation has said.
- By Stefan Morkis
- Published in the Courier : 04.09.10
- Published online : 04.09.10 @ 03.10pm
The company collapsed last month with the loss of 157 jobs following the relative failure of its most recent game, APB.
Although a deal is in place with a US firm to buy some parts of the company, it is not yet known how many jobs could be saved.
However, Richard Lambert, director general of the Confederation of British Industry, visited Dundee on Friday and said the vibrant network of games developers ensures the industry has a strong future in the city.
"Obviously there has been disappointment in Dundee recently but this is a tremendously healthy part of the economy which is growing at twice the rate of other parts of the creative industries," he said.
"It has great potential but it is an industry where people come and go.
"The network that exists in Dundee strikes me as very important."
Mr Lambert said the links the games and biotech sectors developed in Dundee in conjunction with the city's two universities provide a strong base for future economic development.
"Games and biotech are great examples of university and industry collaboration," he went on.
"I think the transformation that has taken place in Dundee is tremendous.
"To have these two sectors (games and biotechnology) in one city is something a lot of other cities would envy.
"Universities can bring dynamism to an area's economy and Dundee is a good case study and a model example.
Amazing
"To have computer games and biosciences both here — it's pretty amazing."
Dundee also hopes to cash in on plans to develop offshore wind farms and Mr Lambert said the renewable energy market could bring great benefits to places like Dundee and Methil.
However, he warned that it may take longer than expected to create the necessary infrastructure for what is almost an entirely new industry.
He said, "They have to invest in the port infrastructure.
"I think it will take longer than the government forecasts but we do need to have a lot of offshore wind to meet our legal obligations — it will be very important."
Mr Lambert added that although there is a current sense of uncertainty about the UK economy, he believes it will recover in time.
"Scotland came into recession a bit later and won't come out of it until a bit later," he said.
"But I get the sense, as I do elsewhere in the UK, that there is a bit of uncertainty — a wobble is what I would call it.
"Businesses we have talked to say that since the election firms have become more cautious.
"Recovery will take a lot of time, to be honest.
"If you look at the output figures, they have picked up and we think they will continue to pick up throughout next year, but it will take a couple of years' growth before we go back to where we were."
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