The government has given some hope to Dundee’s computer games developers after a leading minister failed to rule out offering tax relief to the industry.
Ed Vaizey, minister for culture, communications and the creative industries, wants companies that are struggling in the current economic climate to seek support from initiatives already available to support wider business, but failed to say that tax breaks for firms in the sector were off the agenda for good.
Mr Vaizey was speaking on a visit to Abertay University, where he spoke to students with ambitions of becoming the next generation of games developers.
It comes just months after the coalition decided to axe proposals by the previous government to offer tax relief to the industry, a measure that would have provided a considerable boost for many Dundee companies.
Although giving little reason to believe the possibility of such breaks could be resurrected imminently, Mr Vaizey admitted the issue was not entirely dead in the water.
He told The Courier, “Well I don’t think you can ever say never as a politician, but at the moment what I am focused on is getting the industry to access the support that is already out there for business as a whole.
“These are things like regional growth funds, Capital for Enterprise, or R&D (research and development) tax breaks. As I said, you can never say never, so lets read the Scottish Affairs Select Committee report and we can see what they have to say on the matter.”
That report, which by quirk of fate will be unveiled at Abertay on Monday, will assess the potential impact that tax relief for the industry would have had, as well as detailing the contribution of the Scottish video games sector to the wider economy.HeartDundee has established itself at the heart of Britain’s computer games industry, becoming a home to many companies and employing around 3000 people in the city.
Key to that success has been Abertay’s role at nurturing young gaming talent, with Mr Vaizey’s visit coming in the same week as the publication of the “Next Gen” skills review, which highlighted the university as a centre of excellence.
The independent report maps the needs of the UK’s video games and visual effects industries against the skills being taught in schools and higher education institutions, and recommends that Abertay’s workplace simulation model be emulated.
Praising the work done at the university, Mr Vaizey added, “The UK is among the world’s best in games and special effects development, but staying at the top will all depend on having the right talent, skills and expertise.
“Abertay was held up as the model that higher education institutions in the UK should emulate in a review published just this week by games industry experts. Seeing the facilities here and meeting the teaching staff it’s easy to see why.
“Students here are being given the practical skills that they will need when they start work, not just taught the theory.
“This is what the UK needs more of if we are to keep a place at the forefront of games development on the world stage.”
Abertay launched the first computer games technology degree in 1997 and runs the UK Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education.
Paul Durrant, director of business development at Abertay University, said, “We’re very grateful to Ed Vaizey for his continuing support for the computer games industry and crucially important initiatives like this week’s Livingstone-Hope Review.
“Our position as the UK Centre of Excellence will allow us to play a leading role in a number of the recommendations from the review, and the incredible talent coming out of Abertay shows that the creative industries have a very bright future, with a combination of the proper support and genuinely industry- focused education.”