Scottish Lib Dems call for major boost to gaming industry

At their spring conference, Scottish Liberal Democrats have passed a motion calling for a major boost to Scotland's gaming industry, including proposals to create low-cost office spaces for game designers across the country and for the development of a new strategy to attract the next generation of industry professionals.

The games sector contributes £188.4 million annually to the Scottish economy, employing over 2,181 full-time staff.

The industry has, however, been faced with a raft of different challenges, including the loss of vital funding streams following Brexit.

In Scotland, the sector has suffered from a spate of closures and job losses, including the closure of Axis Studios in Glasgow and mass redundancies at Build a Rocket Boy in Edinburgh.  

The motion calls on the Scottish Government to:

• Establish regional “hubs” across all areas of Scotland for both digital media and video games industry, providing low-cost office space for both sectors, rather than the rent-a-desk options currently available.
• Create a Games Innovation Centre to act as a central hub for research, development and expertise sharing, supporting new start-ups with vital business skills.
• Launch a new pilot fund to support targeted sector growth for newer start-up studios.
• Condition access to any public funding or support body on games companies adhering to fair work practices, such as Fair Work First, to ensure the fair treatment of all employees within the industry across Scotland.
• Develop a new educational strategy which actively engages industry-leading experts and supports the next generation of high-quality university courses, putting practical experience, such as guaranteed industry placements.
• Explore business rates exemptions for digital media and video games start-ups for the period of a first product release window while these companies establish a steady revenue stream.

Neil Alexander, who proposed the motion, has worked in the video games industry for more than eight years, most recently as a game designer.

Standing as the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Inverness and Nairn at May’s election, Neil is hoping to be the first ever game designer elected to any parliament in the UK.

Commenting on the motion, Neil said:

“Despite making a massive contribution to Scotland’s economy and culture, the video games sector here is much more fragile and less coordinated compared to other European nations.  

“It’s deeply frustrating that the government have failed to crack down on well-documented exploitative practices, particularly the “crunch culture” that exists within the industry.

“To reach its full potential in Scotland, the gaming sector needs to be supported to grow nationwide, creating opportunities for new start-ups and long-term economic development.

“This motion represents an important first step in addressing current challenges. Scotland cannot be complacent and rely on past successes; we’ve got to keep putting in the work to ensure this industry thrives for years to come.

“From setting up low-cost office spaces to implementing fairer working conditions and cultivating the right skills in every corner of the country, I want to see the gaming industry finally getting the major boost it needs to turbocharge Scotland’s economy.”