August 13, 2018

Following publication of the CBI’s immigration report: “Open and controlled – a new approach to immigration after Brexit” (see item above), TIGA commented that international talent is particularly important for the video games industry. It said that, currently, EU workers make up 15% per cent of the industry, while 5% come from countries outside the EU. The ability to retain these workers and recruit more talent is “essential for the industry”, TIGA says, as it “aims to expand the number of games studios from 688 to 1,200 by 2022.”

TIGA has called on the Government to consider a range of options for a future migration policy:

• reciprocal freedom of movement rights for workers in the video games industry;
• negotiate a general reciprocal freedom of movement rights for workers with a job offer;
• provide approximately 1,500 work permits per annum for the UK video games industry;
• add roles (e.g. Games Analyst and Engine Programmer) to the Shortage Occupation List where there is a specific skills shortage so that employers can recruit the employees they need without undue delay;
• ensure that any new immigration arrangements are not complex or costly for business; and
• introduce a fast-track visa programme for roles on the Shortage Occupation List.

Commenting on the CBI report, Chief Executive Officer of TIGA, DR Richard Wilson OBE, said: “We hope the Government listens to organisations like TIGA and the CBI. Skilled workers are vital to the businesses we represent. Brexit provides an opportunity to introduce a migration system that both controls the flow of workers while still enabling businesses to hire the best and brightest talent from around the world.

“Industry needs more detail on the future migration regime. Video games companies depend on the ability to recruit highly skilled workers wherever they are from. To compete against studios in North America and the Far East, we need easy access to the best and brightest talent.” To read TIGA’s comments in full, click here.