Games London, a collaboration between UKIE, Film London and the Mayor of London, has launched thanks to the £1.2 million backing of Boris Johnson.
The three year programme aims to “capitalise on the Video Games Tax Relief (VGTR), which was introduced in 2014. It will attract investment to the UK and help businesses based in the capital generate £35 million in new revenue, adding nearly £10 million, as well as creating hundreds of jobs and boosting skills and training.”
Games London highlights include:
- A new annual London Games Festival – with the first taking place in April 2016 – to showcase and celebrate the industry’s huge cultural and economic impact
- A new international business-to-business networking event to attract top investment to the UK
- Inbound and outbound trade missions to promote the tax relief and the sector overseas
- A range of training and skills initiatives
LGF will take place between April 1-10 and feature a Games Finance Market, a series of BFI talks, EGX Razzed and the British Academy Game Awards.
“London is already a star player when it comes to games and interactive entertainment, but international competition is fierce and we need to ensure our city can compete with our global gaming rivals,” said Johnson in a statement.
“Through Games London we are supercharging an increasingly important sector for our economy, one that exemplifies the capital’s reputation for creativity and innovation. From design to banking and civil engineering to film, games technology is being used in a host of different sectors. We are investing in a dynamic and constantly evolving industry to take London to another level as a world-leading capital for games and interactive entertainment.”
Source: Games London via MCV
