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annual review 2017 our board Ukie Annual Review 2016/17 contents 02 foreword 04 Noirin Carmody - Chair Harvey Eagle chair’s report Owner and COO UK Marketing Director Our initiatives Revolution Software 06 ceo’s report Ian Livingstone CBE - Vice Chair Miles Jacobson OBE Chairman Studio Director Playmob 08 a year in westminster and brussels askaboutgames Dave Gould - Treasurer Veronique Lallier askaboutgames.com Snr Director of Sales UK & Export European Managing Director 12 Take 2 Interactive Hi-Rez Studios research and analysis

Without house background

Simon Barratt Warwick Light 16 Director UK Managing Director and Vice President ukie’s year in numbers Barog Game Labs Interactive Entertainment INSPIRATIONAL COMPUTING 18 Katherine Bidwell Phil Mansell Digital Schoolhouse acting locally thinking globally Co-Founder CEO digitalschoolhouse.org.ukWith house background State of Play Games 20 ukie’s global trade programme Neil Boyd Andy Payne OBE INSPIRATIONAL COMPUTING European Anti-Piracy Counsel CEO Europe AppyNation 22 the digital schoolhouse

Shaun Campbell Kirsty Rigden Games UK Country Manager Operations Director games.london 24 FuturLab inspiring talent

John Clark Ella Romanos 26 Senior Vice President, Commercial Director promoting a positive image Publishing Rocket Lolly Games Europe Students 27 Rob Cooper Roy Stackhouse making the most of your IP Managing Director Northern Europe and Vice President - UK, Ireland & Benelux Ukie Students Export Territories Blizzard ukie.org.uk/student-membership 28 business support Spencer Crossley Dr Jo Twist OBE UK Sales & Marketing Director CEO Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Ukie 30 what our members say

Stuart Dinsey Tim Woodley Chairman SVP Global Brand & Marketing Next Gen Skills 32 gamesambassadors.org.uk sub groups Cover image credit: Dan Lish at 02 Ukie Annual Review foreword Matt Hancock MP - Minister for Digital

I engage with some of the most innovative and advanced As Minister of State for businesses in the country and see first-hand how they’re Digital my brief is wide playing their part in driving our economy. I consider myself fortunate that the games than 2000 games businesses across 20 play an important part in the sector deal industry falls in my portfolio. Our games distinct clusters - encompassing global and in ensuring it continues to drive sector boasts some quite extraordinary giants and rapidly scaling start-ups - growth in our economy. Of course we are and diverse, from online talent, working across a vast range of distributed through the UK. now negotiating to leave the EU. Along disciplines, and producing some of the with the undeniable challenges there also most creative cultural output our country The digital and creative industries are a come new opportunities. has to offer. priority for this government. In January we safety to the creative launched the Industrial Strategy Green I know that Ukie members have It has developed - and continues to Paper which set out our commitment to highlighted concerns around talent and develop - skills and innovations which an early sector deal for all the creative immigration, access to markets, cross- now fuel our wider digital economy, from industries, not least video games. border data flows and cultural funding. industries, and digital advances in virtual and augmented reality to the practical application of The deal aims to build on our areas of I look forward to continuing my work with artificial intelligence. global excellence and help emerging Ukie and the wider games industry to sectors thrive, by supporting businesses make sure that, throughout and after our connectivity to skills Added to that, the industry employs to take the lead in transforming and withdrawal from the EU, the UK remains some 23,000 people and, according to growing their own industries. I look the best place in the world to make and and inclusion Ukie’s UK Games Map, there are more forward to seeing the games industry play video games. 04 Ukie Annual Review chair’s report Noirin Carmody, COO Revolution Software

With a membership of over 360 of the country’s innovative games businesses, including the brightest start-ups, well established studios, multinational publishers, companies and service businesses, Ukie represents the broadest range of the sector.

This year Ukie welcomed some of the operational expenses have decreased And this is of course not all that I am delighted to report best-known games names in the world to by 2%. This has resulted in a positive Ukie does: it runs a global trade and its already impressive membership, with position for Ukie of £98,517 and a total investment programme; provides a Jagex, , and of £1,181,610 in reserves. digital IP scanning and takedown further amplifying Ukie’s voice. We are service; launched Digital Schoolhouses that Ukie has never been delighted to have them on board. These reserves give us operational around the country (with support from security in uncertain times and any PlayStation); is a of high quality Having this diverse membership surplus is reinvested in projects that industry research; and acts as the voice greatly adds weight to what we say to benefit the sector (such as the UK of the sector in the media and more. in a stronger position government, meaning that we can better Games Map) or contribute to the represent the sector and continue to be overall cost of running Ukie. This is all only possible through the at the heart of so much that makes the support of our members, so thank you all. UK a great place to make and sell games. This year we will be reviewing our banking to represent the voice arrangements to improve the return on We know that we need to work hard on I am pleased to report that a fast- the reserve. A strong trade body is the your behalf, and the Board and the entire growing, strong membership has also sign of a strong UK games sector. team are all committed to Ukie being been matched by a solid financial With an uncertain political and economic your voice and providing the support of the UK’s games and performance in the last year, as the Ukie landscape, this cannot be taken for to businesses that will help the UK to team have again worked incredibly hard granted and Ukie will be doing everything continue to be the best place in the to deliver a huge amount of activity, whilst it can to ensure the government world to make and sell games and reducing the overall operating costs. understands the sector’s needs around interactive entertainment. interactive entertainment skills, immigration, funding and every Whilst there was a slight decrease in other regulatory area that affects turnover (2%) in 2016/17, direct costs games businesses. industry have decreased by 9% and overall 06 Ukie Annual Review ceo’s report Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO Ukie

Over the last 12 months, we have invested our income into ensuring that we have the most persuasive case to present to government as we look towards a new future with and beyond Europe.

Evidence is key to informing policy. Policy was very well received as an excellent, London has connected 145 games is key to the business environment that detailed, evidence-based piece of work. businesses in the UK with 109 global During a time of you operate in – at home and abroad. Your voice as members and sector investors, driving over £30m potential representatives is vital and we will be business back into UK games Whether that be in ensuring the incredibly continuing this consultative process over companies. However, London Games successful VGTR - which has seen a the next 12 months through our newly Festival does more than that: it is global political 115% increase in claims and £119m formed Immigration & Talent working successfully disrupting the cultural granted since 2014 to UK studios across group, as well as via our other sub groups perception of games and is attracting 420 claims – continues, or helping which are open to all members. more confident attention from cultural businesses make the most of global and arts institutions. business and investment opportunities, The Ukie team has worked across a upheaval, a strong, to identifying where we need to unlock broad range of industry groups and With more public, political and investor more funding and support for games Councils, across sectors to ensure our focus than ever on AR, VR and AI, we businesses and their products at local needs are represented directly at the top have the skills, experiences, and expertise and global , skills development, or table to Parliamentarians to inform what through our blend of innovation and steady, persuasive, simple introductions – your trade body an Industrial Strategy fit for creative digital creativity to lead the world. is your trade buddy. sectors like ours looks like. We will be there to remind the world Over the last year, we have tried to Our international activity has gone from that the potential of these innovations will balance your practical needs with the strength to strength. As well as record- only be realised if we invest in the skills evidenced-based demands of the policy arena which will breaking GDC and UK and expertise that the games determine our future. Industry stands, our programme industry generates. of curated Trade Missions have In September 2016, we were quick generated £103m of business wins Ukie would be nothing without our voice of the industry out the blocks with a positioning paper for UK companies. members, but we cannot do what we on what the key priorities, threats and do without my brilliant team who are ever opportunities were concerning the sector The UK Games Map has grown in the more committed to doing the best job for following the EU referendum. last year to represent more than 2,150 you and our sector. active companies across the UK and has is critical We conducted an extensive UK-wide proved to be an effective lobbying and I would also like to thank my Chair, roadshow and online consultation to international promotion tool. Noirin Carmody for her leadership, the ensure we had the full representation of enormous dedication she has to Ukie, the industry’s voice. Our Games London programme, the and her support. I thank my fantastic centrepiece of which is the London Board too who have been so supportive The resulting State of Play report was Games Festival, is entering its third year. of Ukie’s mission on behalf of the sector - presented at a Parliamentary event and Since its launch in January 2016 Games their time and expertise is invaluable. 08 Ukie Annual Review a year in westminster and brussels

We are the official secretariat to the In May we published our manifesto Powering Up, outlining All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) our key policy issues for the new government. The context for this was established over the year, in particular through on Video Games, and have a programme our work on Brexit and developing our position for the of meetings and events to ensure policy industrial strategy and contained 10 recommendations for the next parliament to ensure the UK remains the best makers are informed about our changing place in the world to make and play games. We called on industry, new technology and new business government to:

models, and it helps us to keep our finger 1. Conduct a detailed forward-looking review of the nation’s on the policy pulse. skills needs at the beginning of each Parliament 2. Work with the creative industries to develop an immigration system that keeps pace with the rapidly Key workstreams evolving specific skills needs 3. Provide early assurance that EU citizens working in the UK Over the winter we embarked on an ambitious member prior to our departure from the EU in March 2019 will have engagement programme to inform our State of Play Brexit the right to remain and work in the UK Ukie’s policy and public affairs team report. Over 70 companies attended 11 roundtable events across the country with 75 additional businesses responding 4. Post Brexit, ensure that our future trade agreements works year-round to influence politicians, to our online survey. enshrine existing trade liberalisations and avoid future regulatory divergences civil servants and stakeholders to shape the The report highlighted continued access to talent, ease of trade and access to markets, establishing data adequacy 5. Provide new funding as well as a clear remit to public regulatory agenda for our industry. and public funding as the key issues Brexit raises for the agencies to support the coordinated development of the games industry, along with recommendations on how to games industry tackle them. 6. Recognise the economic and cultural impact that the The report was launched at a parliamentary breakfast with games industry has around the UK by developing local parliamentarians and policy makers and followed up through plans for scaling-up existing games clusters one to one meetings with MPs. Ensuring MPs respond to the threat to access to talent remains one of our top priorities. 7. Establish a more coherent approach to export and inward investment strategy At the start of the year the games sector, along with the wider creative industries, were included in the 8. Allow flexibility within the apprenticeship levy funds to Government’s Industrial Strategy green paper. Ukie develop standards that work for the industry responded to the green paper in the spring and, as part of the Creative Industries Council, Ukie are now helping to 9. Prioritise obtaining a data adequacy decision from the develop a wider sector deal for the creative industries as well EU as early as possible as submitting our own proposals to deliver our local blueprint for growth nationally, seek more public funding for games, 10. Ensure that ambition for UK connectivity is set in the expand the Digital Schoolhouse programme and secure a hundreds of megabits per second rather than the long-term trade deal for the sector. tens by 2025 10 Ukie Annual Review a year in westminster and brussels

In the last 12 months Ukie has We have also continued to facilitate to content, or data protection to ensure responded to the following briefings for our members with civil that UK-based companies can continue consultations: servants on changes to the immigration to seamlessly offer games directly to the system, the apprenticeships levy, the whole European market. + Apprenticeship Levy Funding Digital Content Directive and + BFI 2022 Geo-blocking Regulation. + Arts Council Review Esports policy + Gambling Commission In addition to these meetings we have + DCMS Sectors Economic Estimates organised studio tours for local MPs Ukie represents most of the major + House of Lords Internal Markets and ministers, giving our members the stakeholders active in esports in the UK Sub-Committee inquiry into trade of opportunity to showcase the innovative today including: esports event organisers services following Brexit and creative technologies in the games ESL, Multiplay, Gfinity and EGL; + Culture, Media and Sport Committee industry and talk about the challenges developers and publishers such as Riot Inquiry on the Impact of Brexit and opportunities they face. Over the Games, Hi-Rez, and Politics by numbers + Department for Exiting the EU past year we have arranged four of EA; teams and university leagues, Team Committee inquiry in to Brexit these tours. Dignitas and the National Universities + Scottish STEM inquiry esports League; and organisations such Ukie responds to a large number of government consultations, + Science and Technology Select as the British esports Association. 15 over the last 12 months, in order to represent the views of Committee STEM skills gap review Europe + Home Affairs immigration inquiry In November last year we launched our our industry to government. We actively seek our members’ + Labour Industrial Strategy We continue to ensure the UK games 2016 esports whitepaper: Growing the input through the Policy Sub Group and where possible consultation and interactive entertainment industry’s UK as an esports hub at an event at + Building our Industrial Strategy green voice is heard on key European policy Gfinity’s London Arena. through facilitated studio tours, private briefings and paper consultation initiatives like the Digital Single Market. showcase opportunities. + European Commission public As well as representing our members The whitepaper was written in Consultation on the Creative through our European trade body the consultation with the UK’s esports Europe Programme Interactive Software Federation of community via Ukie’s esports Sub Group, + House of Lords Artificial Europe (ISFE), we have met with UK and made recommendations for how Intelligence inquiry civil servants to discuss forthcoming industry and government can work + Migration Advisory Committee Call European legislation which will impact together to make the UK a global leader for Evidence: EEA-workers in the UK UK games business’ operations in esports. labour market following our departure from the EU. Ukie has since then been developing new As a member of Ukie, your voice is Our engagement with policy makers We’ve met with UK civil servants to esports qualifications and expanding our also heard in the following groups: does not end with consultation discuss the Audiovisual Media Services Digital Schoolhouse esports competition responses. Throughout the year we Directive (AVMSD), the European to give over 1000 children from schools + CIC (Creative Industries Council) run a comprehensive engagement Commission’s Free Flow of Data all over the country the chance to + Screen Sector Task Force programme with the key political Initiative, Geo-blocking Regulation, compete against each other and get a + Creative Industries Council influencers across Whitehall. Digital Content Directive, and taste of the wide range of roles that + Creative Industries Federation ePrivacy Regulation. make up esports. + British Screen Advisory Council We have met with five ministers over + BAFTA the course of the year, including Matt This year, we also enjoyed taking part And as the main point of contact for + BFI Hancock, Minister for Digital, Brexit in ISFE’s European Parliament Games government policy and regulation relating + C4 minister Robin Walker, Trade Minister Showcase which focused on the role to esports in the UK, we will continue to + BBC Mark Garnier and Small Business of data in the games industry, and call for more support from government for + Arts Council and Industrial Strategy Minister made the most of our time in Brussels esports in this country. + Tech Ambassador & Advocates national network Margot James. to meet with British MEPs and their + CBI (Confederation of British Industry) advisors, as well as representative from + + PIPCU Since September 2017 we have also the UK Permanent Representative For more about Ukie’s + Operation Creative met with over 20 MPs and a further to the EU. Policy work please contact + IPO six peers from across the political Head of Policy & Public Affairs + Creative Skillset spectrum, educating them about the In light of our forthcoming departure from [email protected] + Alliance for IP role the games industry plays in issues the EU, we have consistently been calling Policy & Public Affairs Officer + Regional LEPs such as international trade, child on government to ensure that there is [email protected] + Interactive Software Federation of Europe online safety, data and computer no significant departure from existing EU ukie.org.uk/government-and-policy + Policy and Public Affairs activity science education. rules on cross-border commerce, access + All of our consultation responses ukie.org.uk/policy-papers 12 Ukie Annual Review research and analysis

Research and data

As well as our services providing UK sales data and the official Wherever possible, we also make this data available to our sit at the heart of games charts, Ukie conducts and collates an array of research members and the wider industry, either by publishing our and information across all aspects of the industry, including whitepapers online, creating open data initiatives like the UK headline economic measurements, detailed geographic and Games Map or simply by collating interesting stats on the sectoral mapping of the industry, consumer demographics research page of our website. Ukie’s mission to and market valuations and a multitude of statistics across virtually any topic. Every year, Ukie announces our valuation of the UK consumer games market, which this year showed that UK consumers Our data informs all the work we do, whether providing a spent a record £4.33bn on games and game-related products solid evidence-base for policy recommendations, moulding in 2016. Game software sales also reached new heights, make the UK the best our member services and international trade events through exceeding £3bn in sales for the first time. In line with a changing survey feedback, providing discounted sales data services, technology environment, the 2016 valuation included a number administering the official UK games charts and providing for VR hardware sales for the first time – with UK consumers place in the world to accurate information and feedback to the media. spending £61.3m on VR hardware. make and sell games 14 Ukie Annual Review research and analysis

At nDreams, we’ve found the Games Map invaluable when speaking to young people who are keen to break into the games industry

Tamsin O’Luanaigh – nDreams

UK Games Map

Since its launch in September 2016, the UK Games Map – As well as games business, the UK Games Map lists gamesmap.uk - has proven to be an invaluable source of data 231 games courses across 94 university and educational about the UK games industry, providing an up-to-date institutions nationwide and 149 “service” companies that snap-shot of the size and geography of the UK industry. don’t develop or publish games, but still operate in the industry, The Games Map has proven a Now one year old the map lists 2,175 games companies including PR and legal services, charities, esports companies, currently operating in the UK, a 9.6% increase since launch. technical services and middleware. valuable practical resource for The map combines a big data and crowdsourced approach The UK Games Map provides the sector with a critical data to data gathering, pulling in additional data for established set that we can feed into numerous projects, including for the all types of business companies from across the internet, as well as allowing new upcoming Economic Valuation of the Screen Sectors report, businesses to register themselves directly. With a further 450 in collaboration with the BFI. This data has also been used games companies listed in the map that are no longer trading, in our recommendations to update the government’s SIC the UK Games Map currently contains a record of 2,625 code system, as we can show that 51% of games business UK-based games companies. are registered without the right SIC, and therefore are not necessarily being counted in government economic data. One thing that’s immediately clear upon viewing the UK Games Map is that there are games companies wherever you go in the Throughout the last year, Ukie have delivered an ongoing UK, however we also see the industry coalesce around a core program of updates, fixes and new features to the UK Games of key hubs. Map, which is planned to continue into the coming year. We will strive to maximise the effectiveness of this data and continue London remains host to the largest number of active games to build a UK Games Map that works for the industry, companies (592), but there are also significant games clusters by the industry. in Manchester, Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast , Guildford and Slough to name a few.

Interestingly, the highest densities of games businesses are seen in Dundee and Brighton, with one in every 250 businesses in the towns developing or publishing games, compared to around one in every 770 businesses in London. Our work with disabled gamers takes us all over the country and the UK Games Map is a great way for us to research and connect with the local games industry in the regions we visit + For more information on Ukie research or the UK Games Map please contact Research Analyst [email protected] ukie.org.uk/research gamesmap.uk UKIE’s YEAR IN NUMBERS Membership growth INTERNATIONAL Trade TRADE STANDS AT CHINA JOY, GAMESCOM, GDC AND GSTAR. OUTBOUND TRADE MISSION TO CHINA JOY 360 305 UK GAMES BUSINESSES DIT EXHIBITOR 269 130 EXHIBITED AT AN k GRANTS DISTRIBUTED 229 BUSINESSES OVERSEAS SHOW ON A £121 TO UK COMPANIES 181 UKIE STAND BY UKIE 136 36 55 40 45 48 UP UP NEW CONTACTS MADE BY UK 8000+ PEOPLE VISITED A UKIE STAND AT AN 46 UP COMPANIES VIA THE UKIE TRADE OVERSEAS TRADE SHOW. UP UP UP 4600 PROGRAMME

MEMBERS MEMBERS MEMBERS MEMBERS MEMBERS MEMBERS SEP 2012 SEP 2013 SEP 2014 SEP 2015 SEP 2016 SEP 2017

WEBINARS AND INVESTMENT DEVELOPERS – FROM MICRO TO REPRESENTING ALL MAJOR FORMAT HOLDERS RECORD NUMBER OF UK WORTH OF BUSINESS DEALS M DINNERS ORGANISED TO LARGE ESTABLISHED STUDIOS AND MULTI-NATIONAL PUBLISHERS 83 EXHIBITORS ON A UKIE 103 DONE BY UK BUSINESSES TRADE STAND, GAMESCOM 2017 ON OUR STANDS SUPPORT OVERSEAS TRADE POLITICS DIGITAL DELIVERING VALUE For Schoolhouse Members SINCE SEPTEMBER 2014...

INDUSTRY EVENTS GROWN FROM 8 TO 30 DIGITAL SCHOOLHOUSES OVER 280 MEMBER MEETINGS 104 GOVERNMENT RESPONSE ORGANISED & PROMOTED 15 & POLICY PAPERS PUBLISHED 1 REACHED OVER 162,000 CHILDREN 1 0 1 1 OVER 800 MANAGED 1- 2 -1 BUSINESS INTRODUCTIONS 1 1 NUMBER OF TEACHERS PARLIAMENTARY MEETINGS 1700 35 1 SUPPORTED 650+COMPANIES ATTENDED PROMOTION A UKIE BUSINESS SESSION NUMBER OF OR SUB GROUP MEETING 230 19 UK SCHOOLS PRESS RELEASES THIS YEAR THROUGH MEMBER £ 180k Student Membership £ DISCOUNTS ON £ £ IN MEMBER £ £ SERVICES – INCLUDING FREE EVENT DISCOUNTS ON GAMES saved PASSES saved TAX RELIEF ADVICE ON STORIES PUBLISHED 2029 STUDENT MEMBERS 23 INSTITUTES MARKET DATA all areas 168! ON UKIE NEWS BLOGS

2 STUDENT CONFERENCES ATTRACTED UKIE FEATURED ON: OVER 400 ATTENDEES AND 30 TALKS HOT DESKS AND MEETING ROOMS FOR MEMBERS TO USE BBC RADIO 5 LIVE Free BBC RADIO 4 ! BBC TECH TENT THE SUN, WIRED, THE METRO Ambassadors THE EVENING STANDARD LAST 12 MONTH STATS 310 ROOM BOOKINGS £125k MARKET VALUE ROOM HIRE - SAVED BBC SWITCH BY MEMBERS USING OUR FREE SPACE 300 REGISTERED VGAS

VGA IP WEB SCANNING SERVICE TAKING DOWN 13,000 ILLEGAL DOWNLOAD LINKS EVERY MONTH. 10,000 VGAS GAVE CAREERS ADVICE 85 AT EGX AND REZZED OVERALL OVER 250,000 LINKS REMOVED. VISITS A MONTH 18 Ukie Annual Review acting locally thinking globally

Growing the games industry in Local games cluster strategies Coventry and Warwickshire

With the games industry clustered across The London Games Festival will return in Following the success of Games the UK, it’s increasingly important that 2018, running from 5 April to 15 April. The London, we have been working with games clusters receive local support, 2018 festival aims to go even further with Coventry and Warwickshire LEP to In just a couple of years, the London tailored to their own needs. We have a wider programme of outdoor events shape a similar strategic plan for games continued to work with Local Authorities, and an even bigger offering for the games businesses in the region, notably in and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) developer community. around Leamington Spa. Games Festival has become a major and other local support networks and organisiation to shape strategies that will Highlights for next year include: This new programme will operate for attraction for consumers and help grow the UK’s games clusters. two years and will provide local games + The third Games Finance businesses with trade and investment Two years ago we successfully bid to Market (Tuesday, 10 April to Thursday, missions, CPD training, investor-ready professionals alike the London LEP, with support from the 12 April) the only event of its kind in the bootcamps and skills initiatives. GLA, for £1.2m to create Games London UK, connecting 60 games studios with (in partnership with screen agency Film 60 global games investors We are already working with several other Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan London). major games clusters and will continue to + Now Play This, the festival of playful roll out this approach, working with LEPs, The programme promotes London work and experimental game design at Local Authorities, Combined Authorities A global trade programme as one of the world’s leading games Somerset House and the government in Westminster to destinations and provides opportunities get more support for games businesses for businesses all over the UK to + London’s largest games event EGX throughout the UK. Games businesses operate in a globally digital environment. The results have been phenomenal with numerous distribution, showcase their work, get investor ready Rezzed (Friday, 13 April to Sunday, Digital distribution enables UK businesses of all sizes to publishing and collaboration deals secured. Business wins of and get access to investors themselves. 15 April), a showcase of PC and indie We will continue to lobby for more local commercialise their products and services around the world. £103m were recorded for UK games companies in the past 12 Since its launch in January 2016 Games games, at Tobacco Dock support via the Industrial Strategy. But to truly maximise the opportunities of international trade, a months – taking the cumulative business wins for UK SMEs for London has connected 145 games greater understanding of the market, its unique nuances and the past three years to over £300m. businesses in the UK with 109 + The BAFTA Games Awards on characteristics is required. global investors, driving over £30m Thursday, 12 April at Troxy Investment and acquisitions have also increased, supported by potential business back into UK Then identifying and connecting to appropriate local partners is the detailed market knowledge of the Ukie team which has been games companies. The London Games Festival is also vital to success. Ukie has developed a comprehensive, award able to connect businesses with appropriate partners. curating the brand new HUB event winning, international trade programme including highly visible It also runs the London Games Festival. (Monday, 9 April and Tuesday, 10 April). pavilions at major trade shows, investment focussed trade trips Acquisitions and investment in UK games companies that have Over 50,000 people attended 40 HUB is a new two-day B2B event and both inbound and outbound UK trade missions. been part of the Ukie trade programme have exceeded the different events across 20 different housing the Festival’s summits, a demo Allied to this, Ukie has forged strong partnerships with global staggering sum of £1.4bn in the past 18 months. + venues during the 2017 festival. The zone for prototpyes and start-ups, a trade experts in key markets such as China, Korea and For more information on our Festival has also established itself as a pop-up coworking space and gallery. the USA to help enhance the programme. International Trade Programme platform for global business in games please contact with the Games Finance Market delivering Head of Commercial and Membership nearly £20m potential business in April. [email protected] ukie.org.uk/international-trade-shows + For more information on our Clusters Programme please contact COO [email protected] + £117k £103m 130 For more information on Games London contact DIT exhibitor grants distributed to business deals done by UK UK games businesses exhibited at an Senior Games Programme Executive UK companies by Ukie businesses on our stands overseas show on a Ukie managed stand [email protected]

games.london UKIE’s GlOBAL TRADE ProgramME

£37K £17K Grants Grants 5 Companies met GAMESCOM GSTAR AMERICAN BUSAN VISIT SOUTH KOREA 83 Companies 8 Companies 20 UK Companies

£23K £44K Grants Grants CHINA JOY SHANGHAI GDC 42 Companies met CHINA SAN FRANCISCO LONDON Companies USA CHINA 15 40 Companies VISIT

120 UK Companies

8000+ VISITORS TO UKIE STANDS £103m OF UK BUSINESS DONE UK STAND

UK TRADE MISSION

Outbound 4,600 NEW CONTACTS MADE £121K DIT exhibitor grants distributed by Ukie INbound 22 Ukie Annual Review the digital schoolhouse powered by PlayStation

Our mission is to revolutionise computing education to inspire the next generation

Originally seed-funded by the GLA, This year has seen significant The grand final was hosted by Gfinity Ukie’s Digital Schoolhouse (DSH) programme, powered by DSH continues to gain momentum since collaboration with BAFTA and the as part of London Games Festival, its successful pilot in 2014. Thanks to development of Young Games with coverage from BBC Newsround, PlayStation®, sponsored by SEGA & Warwickshire County lead partner PlayStation®, last year we Designer resources. Waypoint, Vice and more. Council, is a not-for-profit programme which uses play-based launched a national programme of 20 Schoolhouses across England. New activities include: Gamebook The tournament saw a 16% rise of all learning to engage pupils, whilst upskilling teachers to deliver the Computing and The Computational students considering a possible career in new computing curriculum. Our mission, to revolutionise computing In 2017, we continue expansion Thinking Duck, using LEGO bricks. the creative digital industries, with greater by 50%, with 29+ Schoolhouses across DSH’s successes are being more widely impact on over 16s: 87% reporting education to inspire the next generation the UK and Northern Ireland. Workshops recognised; this summer, presenting increased interest in studying computing/ are predicted to exceed last year’s at the WCCE 2017 in Dublin and at tech-related subjects. impact, with a projected reach of TEDXMatera in Matera. DSH Director 15,000 pupils and 1,600+ teachers. and Head of Education, Ukie Shahneila Attendance also increased during the co-wrote “Hacking the Curriculum…” tournament; on average 13% rise at New DSH is also proud to have on board its with Ian Livingstone, receiving great College. Soft skills developed included: new supporters, Sega and Warwickshire reviews and critical success. Team Working (58%) and meeting new County Council. people (46%). In addition, DSH achieved award finalist With their contributions, the programme for the highly prestigious BETT ‘ICT Results clearly demonstrate how DSH will provide even more Schoolhouses with Innovator of the Year’ Award 2017. can continue to use video gaming to bursary funding, helping to alleviate the equip the next generation and plug the financial burdens faced with implementing A new DSH pilot last year was the first digital skills gap. DSH can’t grow without creative computing. ever schools-based esports tournament, you. Together, we can revolutionise with over 460+ students participating computing education. Industry and education work together across England. This offered a unique to develop new classroom resources; blend of education and careers, engaging providing pupils with practical value to students by immersing them in world support subject content. of esports.

Without house background + To find out about School Adoption and wider collaboration opportunities contact Director, Digital Schoolhouse [email protected] Programme Development Executive [email protected] digitalschoolhouse.org.uk 24 Ukie Annual Review inspiring talent

Video Games Ambassadors Student Membership

Our Video Game Ambassadors (VGAs) are industry volunteers Ukie’s Student Membership scheme bridges the gap between who inspire a diversity of young people and career changers academia and industry, providing over 2000 students, from 23 with tangible advice about getting started and making of the country’s leading games courses with unique contacts, meaningful careers in the games industry. They visit schools, opportunities, insight, resources, internships and industry colleges and games events across the country to talk about the discounts to bring them closer to their first job in games. options available in the industry, the STE(A)M agenda and the skills needed to achieve a successful career in the sector. The 2016-17 academic year has been jam packed with VGAs inspire a diversity of young people and activity starting off with the Ukie Student Conference North The VGA programme has continued to grow from strength to hosted at Staffordshire University in November which attracted career changers with tangible advice about strength over the last 12 months, with over 300 passionate over 200 students from across the UK to hear from a diverse industry experts now volunteering their time at events range of professionals within the games industry. Students throughout the year. also received 1-2-1 advice on their portfolios, websites and getting started and making meaningful interview techniques from recruitment specialists and Diversity is always key to the VGA network, and they all have Ukie member Amiqus. careers in the games industry a wide range of backgrounds, skills and career paths which they share with thousands of young people or career changers The Ukie Student Conference proved so popular that we ran the across the country. 20% of the network are female, which is Ukie Student Conference South for the first time this year, as above industry average, and we are committed to raising this part of the London Games Festival in April. This conference was number in the coming year. a full day of talks with two tracks hosted at London South Bank University. It also had the very first Ukie Students Conference Speakers develop their own presentation skills and confidence Expo with companies such as , Barog Labs too by presenting at the Ukie run Careers Bars at the biggest and others taking part. The conference also saw the return games expos in the country: at EGX in September 2016 and of the careers section this time hosted by Ukie members Rezzed in March 2017, which was the biggest Ukie Careers OPM Response. Bar to date, as part of London Games Festival, with over 85 VGAs volunteered across the weekends to give careers May saw the return of the eagerly awaited annual Ukie Student talks and one-to-one advice. Game Jam. Bigger and better than ever we had 21 teams from across our membership compete to make the best game in There is a huge range of activities that VGAs can get involved under 48 hours in hopes of winning the coveted Ukie Student Ukie’s Student Membership scheme in throughout the year, including judging game jams, school Game Jam trophy. The stakes were higher than ever with bridges the gap between academia scratch competitions and much more. Each activity can make fantastic prizes donated by our membership including exclusive a real difference in a young person’s life and inspire the next studio tours, developer meet and greets and of course lots and industry generation of the UK games industry. of merchandise and games. + For more information on the VGA network contact Community & Communications Officer [email protected] or visit gamesambassadors.com + Students To find out more about our Student Membership contact Business Development Executive [email protected] ukie.org.uk/student-membership 26 Ukie Annual Review 27 Ukie Annual Review promoting a positive image making the most of your IP

Ukie is here to fairly and accurately the service has helped games businesses represent the UK games and to protect over 400 of their titles, removing interactive entertainment sector over 300,000 infringing links in the media

Askaboutgames Press Our IP Scanning service identifies where your games are being We are also working in other ways to protect your IP. With made available illegally and removes the infringing links. In the the support of the government we are looking to implement Ukie and the VSC Rating Board jointly Ukie is here to fairly and accurately In the last 12 months, last nine months, the service has helped games businesses changes in how search engines work, that will demote or even run and fund askaboutgames.com, represent the UK games and interactive to protect over 400 of their titles, removing over 300,000 remove results to infringing sites. an online resource which contains a entertainment sector in the media. We askaboutgames has infringing links - 70% within 24 hours of being reported, with comprehensive range of advice about are trusted to give honest representation been featured in many an overall 92% removal rate. The goal is to replace ‘bad’ results with results to your website PEGI ratings, online safety, family friendly of the sector in related news stories, as or partners so a player has the opportunity to buy a game legally. games advice, and parental controls. well as a trustworthy and robust source mainstream articles Monitoring 150 of the most popular sites multiple times a day We have been working closely with the National Cybercrime of industry data, and also act as a human the scanning service sends instant takedown notices ensuring Unit (NCCU) to gain a better understanding on how companies Used by parents, carers, teachers, shield for the industry and our members that the download (and torrent) links have a limited life span. and games players are affected by cybercrime. government, and industry partners alike, in times of crisis. it is the go to place for anyone who This has resulted in 10 sites that were making games titles As a business owner you may have received suspicious emails has questions about children’s online In the past 12 months, Ukie has been available illegally shutting down and a dozen more completely pretending to be from a colleague requesting a large amount of behaviour, as well as interesting relevant featured in multiple national publications removing the pages where the download links were found. funds be transferred into an unknown bank account. You won’t news pieces and tangible career advice. as the voice of the industry, whether be alone and by sending these emails to the NCCU the bank reacting to breaking news that affects our It’s not just the AAA titles that are infringed, the service finds links accounts are shut down and the criminals behind this activity In the last 12 months, askaboutgames sector, or proactively producing positive for small indie releases including titles. The greater are stopped. has been featured in many mainstream press stories to champion the UK games the range and higher the volume of titles we protect will generate articles, including references in The Sun market in the media. more results that will determine the scale of infringement and The PREVENT campaign aims to raise awareness around and The Guardian and was also selected where we should focus our enforcement efforts. cybercrime amongst young people so none of them as one of the top places for parents Our press clippings in the past year + inadvertently try to DDoS or hack a friend or family member to seek online safety advice by DCMS number 209 and include stories in/on The We have been working with the Police Intellectual Property which could lead onto more serious activity. So take advantage For more about ahead of Christmas. Guardian, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio Crime Unit (PIPCU) submitting sites that make money from of the free scanning service and get involved to ensure your educating parents & carers 4, BBC Tech Tent, The Sun, Wired, The using others’ IP illegally, which should appear on an Infringing business is protected from cybercrime. askaboutgames.com For 2017-18 we’re excited to announce Metro, The Evening Standard and BBC + Website List (IWL). PIPCU then seeks to stop the revenue that the VSC Rating Board renewed Switch as well as the games press. streams going to these sites, severely impacting how View our latest press releases their partnership and we undertake they operate. ukie.org.uk/press + a brand refresh and relaunch of the + To find out how Ukie askaboutgames site, which launched For press enquiries contact can help you contact at EGX 2017. Community & Communications Officer IP Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] 28 Ukie Annual Review business support working harder for our members

Ukie is a force to be reckoned with for the UK games industry. Passionate, informed, smart, focussed, driven and totally committed to the future success of the whole industry. Proud to be a member

As the sector evolves, Ukie shifts with Ukie has supported a series of UK B2C of data interpretation and insight. it to maintain and improve the support events with a strategic partnership with Bespoke reports, commissioned by services and functions we provide. Ukie member, Payload Studios. members, are now available. Members continue to have access to This includes access to networking and Payload delivers the distinctive Tentacle the wide range of service discounts and promotional events such as our increased Stand at major consumer shows event access for key events that Ukie presence at VR/AR and esports events including Insomnia and EGX and Ukie membership offers. Ukie exists to help our members navigate in particular, with speaking opportunities has supported and promoted this great and panels of experts supplied for initiative as a gateway for members to Free tickets to games events worth over key events. reach consumers. £70k were distributed to members with the challenges and opportunities of the total exhibitor discounts at trade shows of Our Mixed Reality and esports Sub Market data and industry guides continue £5k per company available. ever-changing games and interactive Groups are amongst our most proactive. to help businesses drive forward, Featuring the best industry experts, these providing high quality information and Our Partner members continue to provide groups have led both Ukie and industry analysis. discounted and preferential rates on entertainment sector thought leadership in key areas. legal advice, currency transactions, R&D Ukie continues to offer market-leading tax applications, Video Game Tax Relief Events also continue to be an important data to help businesses with planning applications amongst other key tool for members to raise their profile. decisions and has added, via our business services. Alongside our B2B trade programme, Research Analyst Luke, a new level

+ For more information on these services and any other membership activity please contact Head of Commercial & Membership [email protected] Business Development Executive [email protected] ukie.org.uk/reports ukie.org.uk/support ukie.org.uk/events-and-training ukie.org.uk/international-trade-shows 35% 40% 15% WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY How satisfied are you with the work How many UK employees are in Ukie does on behalf of the industry? your company?

MICRO (1-3) VERY SATISFIED 9% 9% SMALL (4-9) 16%

SATISFIED MEMBERSHIP GROWTH 15% 400 MEDIUM (10-24) 43% NEITHER SATISFIED OR DISSATISFIED 350 360 LARGE (25 -49) 27% 47% DISSATISFIED (1%) 11% 55 VERY LARGE (50-249) 300 VERY DISSATISFIED (0%) 305 UP

TOTAL MEMBERS MASSIVE (250+) 250 269 36 21% 229 UP DON'T KNOW / UNSURE (1%) 200 40 UP 181 48 The platforms members are 150 UP How do you think your company's working on 45 business prospects will evolve in 100 136 UP 100 the nExt 12 months?

% COMPANIES WORKING ON 46 50 UP 80 0 15% SEP 2012 SEP 2013 SEP 2014 SEP 2015 SEP 2016 SEP 2017 70% 69% 60 67% GROW 63% STAY STABLE 40

33% DECLINE (2%) 28% 20 25% 23% 83% 17% 13% 13% 0 iOS ANDROID PC CONSOLE CONSOLE VR (PC/ HANDHELD PC AUGMENTED WINDOWS VR (MOBILE) (DIGITAL) (DIGITAL) (PHYSICAL) CONSOLE) CONSOLE (PHYSICAL) REALITY PHONE

Ukie should be the Ukie is a force to be Ukie have helped our Ukie is, in my opinion, The team at Ukie work Ukie have been a model for all trade reckoned with for the small three person the main reason the tirelessly to promote great help to me when bodies. They are UK games industry. team become a games industry is the UK games industry I started my business. industrious, Passionate, global player. taken seriously by the on a local and I would recommend knowledgeable, a informed, smart, UK government. international level… that every new UK positive force and focussed, driven and The profile of the UK games business joins. fair. We love every totally committed to games industry as a single one of them. the future success of global creative the whole industry. powerhouse is hugely Proud to be a advantaged by their member. constant drive. 32 Ukie Annual Review

@ukieluke sub groups our staff Luke Hebblethwaite: Research Analyst For all your research questions/ideas [email protected] @ukieluke

CEO @Doctoe

Dr Jo Twist OBE: CEO Judy Jones: Accountant CEO For all your questions For all money, fees and invoice questions One of the best ways to [email protected] [email protected] @Doctoe get involved is through our programme

CEO of special interest Sub Groups. Claire Macbeath: Team Assistant and PA Dan Wood: COO For all training questions/ideas and meeting requests For all your operational questions/ideas [email protected] [email protected] Our Sub Groups are Chaired by Ukie members and give games businesses the chance @DamelW CEO to discuss key issues that they are facing and work together at finding industry-wide solutions. Anyone from a Ukie member business can join a Sub Group so get in touch Laura Martin: Programme @ukiesam with the contacts below if you want to get involved. Development Executive, Digital Schoolhouse Sam Collins: Head of Membership and Commercial For all your Digital Shooolhouse questions/ideas For all your membership and commercial questions/ideas [email protected] [email protected] @UkieLaura @ukiesam Developer Group IP Group

The Developer Group exists to provide support to the needs of Our IP Group meets to discuss latest IP related issues and Ukie developer members. shape Ukie’s overall IP strategy. Megan@MegMgumi Rice: Business Development Executive Ukie contact – [email protected] Ukie contact – [email protected] Tim Scott: Head of Policy & Public Affairs For all your Commercial questions/ideas For all your Policy & Public affairs Questions/ideas [email protected] [email protected] @MegMgumi @UkieTim esports Group Mixed Reality Group

The esports Group brings together leading esport event and The VR & AR Group exists to provide support and identify @ukielex service companies and content owners to identify opportunities opportunities and lead growth and expansion within the UK. @ukielex Shahneila Saeed: Head of Education; Director, Digital Schoolhouse and lead growth and expansion within the UK. Ukie contact – [email protected] Mo Ali: IP Coordinator For all your Digital Schoolhouse questions/ideas Ukie contact – [email protected] For all your IP questions/ideas [email protected] [email protected] @DigSchoolhouse Policy Group @UkieMo Immigration and Talent Group The Policy Group exists to lead member input on Ukie’s policy The Immigrationand Talent Group looks at issues surrounding and public affairs strategy, to advise on political issues, to

@dave74205 talent acquisition and immigration. assist with the preparation of consultation responses and other David Smith: Member Services and Facilities Coordinator Ukie contact – [email protected] submissions to government, and to provide a focal point for all Sophie@UkieSophie Densham: Community and Communications Officer For all your meeting/event bookings at Ukie HQ Ukie engagement with members on political issues. For all your Community and Communications questions/ideas [email protected] [email protected] @Dave74205 Ukie contact – [email protected] @UkieSophie International Trade Group

The International Trade Group looks at how we can @ukie_lex support UK companies with information and access to Alexa Turness: Events Manager key overseas markets Marianna Drake: Policy and Public Affairs Officer For all your events and expo questions/ideas Ukie contact – [email protected] For all your policy questions/ideas [email protected] [email protected] @Ukie_Lex @marianna_ukie

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