Mapping Scotland’s Games Industry

Published: 22 Jan 2016

From today (Friday 22 January, 2016) organisations and individuals working in the digital games industry in Scotland are being invited to contribute to a review of their sector. 

Creative Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Games Network are working together to develop a more coordinated approach to supporting the digital games industry in Scotland.

This work is being delivered in response to a series of recommendations put forward in the inquiry into the Economic Impact of the Creative Industries undertaken by The Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee.

To do this effectively, better intelligence around how people are working and how they see their future businesses evolving, is needed.  

Clive Gillman, Director of Creative Industries, Creative Scotland, said: “Scotland's games are played by millions all over the world - there is no doubt that Scotland has played a hugely significant role in establishing this industry as one of the leading forms of entertainment globally.

“That said, the digital gaming industry here is fast-paced and ever-changing.  We want to better understand and support the sector and we’re now asking individuals and organisations working in the industry in Scotland to contribute to this online survey.  The intelligence gained will inform and guide support for the sector in the future.

“Given that the dynamism of the digital games sector, we plan to repeat this survey on a twice-yearly basis to help us understand its evolution and we will share this intelligence with partners in the enterprise, education and skills agencies to further develop knowledge and awareness of the digital games sector across all public sector bodies in Scotland.”

The survey can be accessed from today, Friday 22 January and will close at 6pm on Monday 8 February 2016.  To access the survey please visit:  www.research.net/r/ScottishGamesSurveyJan2016

All company-specific information will remain confidential, but we will share collated information that emerges from the survey.

Further information:  

1. The Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee held an inquiry into the Economic Impact of the Creative Industries.  Its remit was to consider how Scotland can grow sustainable TV and film and video games industries.  The Committee launched a call for evidence on Friday 5 December 2014.   Creative Scotland’s written response can be found online. Janet Archer, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland also gave oral evidence on 28 January.  The final report was published on Tuesday 31 March, 2015, read the report. The Committee received the Scottish Government's response on 28 May 2015. You can read the response.

2. A number of the recommendations from inquiry into the Economic Impact of the Creative Industries involve both Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland working together to deliver actions, many of which overlap. It was felt that the recommendations that related to the video games sector would be best integrated into two main bodies of work led by Creative Scotland i) an open forum session ii) a mapping exercise of the Sector in Scotland

3. Creative Scotland set up the first part of this process which comprised of an open forum with the sector on Thursday 15 October, 2015. This event outlined the survey process, provided further information about Creative Scotland funding opportunities and gathered feedback on the needs of the sector. Following this, the survey to map the Games Sector in Scotland will go live in January, 2016 and will be repeated 5 times over the next 24 months.

4. This work will inform planning in line with Creative Scotland’s forthcoming Creative Industries Strategy.  The draft Creative Industries strategy was published on Friday 16 October, 2015 for public consultation. Creative Scotland's approach to the Creative Industries is framed within the context of Scotland’s Creative Industries Partnership (SCIP). Creative Scotland’s CEO chairs this group which brings together Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Funding Council, Skills Development Scotland, COSLA, VOCAL, Scottish Development International, SLAED and Business Gateway

Contact:

Sophie Bambrough

Media Relations & PR Officer

Creative Scotland

E: sophie.bambrough@creativescotland.com

T: +44 (0) 131 523 0015

M: +44 (0) 774 760 6146

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