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New report calls for investment in West Midlands games industry

Local sector supports up to 3,500 jobs

New report calls for investment in West Midlands games industry

A new report by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Ukie has called for more investment in the games industry in the West Midlands.

The Blueprint for Growth report focuses on the cultural and economic contribution made to the region by the games sector.

It states that around 130 UK games businesses are based in the West Midlands, and in particular are located around Leamington’s Silicon Spa area.

The research claims that at any one time the local industry employs 3,000 to 3,500 full-time staff across the region. It also states the sector generated an estimated £224 million in GVA in 2015.

£188 million of this was said to be from a core of 50 companies situated around Leamington, Southam and Warwick.

Increased support

The report calls for investment in games sector support and for the development of an interactive media and digital manufacturing cluster, as the promotion of Silicon Spa as a digital hub.

It also asks for increased collaboration between local games business, universities and research institutes and encourages information sharing between councils, landlords and developers to ensure a range of workspace across Coventry and Warwickshire.

“The games and interactive entertainment sector presents real opportunities for economic growth around the country and we want this report to be used as a blueprint for other emerging clusters across the UK to consider,” said Ukie CEO Jo Twist.

“The report directly responds to the government’s recent Industrial Strategy – in particular, directly addressing the call to consider the best structures to support people, industries and places to maximise local strengths.

“We look forward to working with the LEP, Local Authorities, Combined Authorities and the government in Westminster to get more support for games businesses in the West Midlands and wider UK.”

You can read the full report here.


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Craig Chapple is a freelance analyst, consultant and writer with specialist knowledge of the games industry. He has previously served as Senior Editor at PocketGamer.biz, as well as holding roles at Sensor Tower, Nintendo and Develop.