Regional Economic Impacts of the UK Games Industry
Contents
Gross Value Added
Gross value added (GVA) is the measure of the economic value of goods and services. This can be used to compare the economic impact of different sectors or compare the impact of the same sector in different geographic areas. All measures of GVA in this article relate to data originally from the BFI's Screen Business Report (October 2018). The methodology of this report explains how direct and total GVA figures are calculated.
Regions with the Highest GVA from Games Companies
| Region | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£M) | Total GVA (£M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 588 | 5107 | 729.2 | 1390.2 |
| South East | 376 | 3266 | 197.3 | 356.3 |
| North West | 174 | 1315 | 89.9 | 157.3 |
| Scotland | 113 | 1156 | 75.0 | 131.2 |
| West Midlands | 134 | 1209 | 74.6 | 130.8 |
| North East | 52 | 518 | 56.7 | 99.9 |
| East Midlands | 95 | 906 | 42.3 | 74.1 |
| East of England | 166 | 1209 | 30.9 | 54.3 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 149 | 767 | 24.5 | 42.9 |
| South West | 152 | 423 | 18.5 | 32.5 |
| Wales | 54 | 172 | 8.2 | 14.4 |
| Northern Ireland | 35 | 77 | 3.2 | 5.6 |
Scotland
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundee | 33 | 306 | 17.6 | 30.9 |
| Edinburgh | 32 | 657 | 45.9 | 80.3 |
| Glasgow | 38 | 116 | 7.2 | 12.5 |
| Scotland | 133 | 1156 | 75.0 | 131.2 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
- Game Dev Ed (Edinburgh)
- IGDA Scotland (Scotland)
- Scottish Games (Scotland)
- InGAME (Dundee)
Wales
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgend | 5 | 53 | 3.0 | 5.2 |
| Cardiff | 26 | 66 | 2.7 | 4.8 |
| Wales | 54 | 172 | 8.2 | 14.4 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
Northern Ireland
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | 21 | 48 | 2.0 | 3.5 |
| Northern Ireland | 35 | 77 | 3.2 | 5.6 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
North West
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crewe | 8 | 558 | 16.4 | 28.6 |
| Liverpool | 35 | 152 | 21.7 | 38.0 |
| Manchester | 82 | 369 | 37.7 | 66.1 |
| North West | 174 | 1315 | 89.9 | 157.3 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
- Gamedev Liverpool (Liverpool)
- Gameopolis (Greater Manchester)
- Liverpool Games Cluster (Liverpool)
- WA Games (Warrington)
North East
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 20 | 372 | 48.6 | 85.8 |
| Sunderland | 12 | 84 | 3.0 | 5.3 |
| North East | 52 | 518 | 56.7 | 99.9 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
- Game Bridge (Middlesbrough)
- Women Making Games North East (North East)
Yorkshire and The Humber
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds | 27 | 187 | 6.4 | 11.2 |
| Sheffield | 43 | 331 | 9.9 | 17.3 |
| Wakefield and Castleford | 7 | 92 | 1.6 | 2.8 |
| York | 14 | 30 | 1.2 | 2.0 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 149 | 767 | 24.5 | 42.9 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
- Badonkadonk (Bradford)
- Ga-Ma-Yo (Yorkshire)
- Game Republic (Yorkshire)
- HumberBundle (Hull)
- Leeds Games Toast (Leeds)
- Shindig (Sheffield)
West Midlands
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 35 | 86 | 4.6 | 8.0 |
| Leamington Spa | 34 | 907 | 57.4 | 100.7 |
| West Midlands | 134 | 1209 | 74.6 | 130.8 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
- Brum Indies (Birmingham)
- Leamingston Spa: Arch Creatives (Leamington Spa)
- Leamington Unity Developers (Leamington Spa)
East Midlands
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burton Upon Trent | 8 | 113 | 9.7 | 17.0 |
| Derby | 11 | 46 | 2.6 | 4.6 |
| Lincoln | 8 | 328 | 15.3 | 26.7 |
| Nottingham | 31 | 194 | 10.6 | 18.5 |
| East Midlands | 95 | 906 | 42.3 | 74.1 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
- East Midlands Indies (Nottingham)
East of England
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | 47 | 853 | 16.4 | 28.7 |
| Chelmsford | 10 | 26 | 1.4 | 2.4 |
| East of England | 166 | 1209 | 30.9 | 54.3 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
- Cambridge Game Creators (Cambridge)
- Cambridge Indies (Cambridge)
- Norfolk Indie Game Developers (Norfolk)
London
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 588 | 5107 | 729.2 | 1390.2 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
South West
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falmouth | 5 | 27 | 1.5 | 2.6 |
| Bristol | 46 | 139 | 5.5 | 9.7 |
| South West | 152 | 423 | 18.5 | 32.5 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
- Bristol Games Hub (Bristol)
South East
| Location | Games Companies | Full-Time Employees | Direct GVA (£) | Total GVA (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basingstoke | 12 | 88 | 1.3 | 2.2 |
| Brighton | 65 | 277 | 13.7 | 24.1 |
| Crawley and Horsham | 24 | 579 | 47.8 | 83.7 |
| Guildford and Aldershot | 64 | 855 | 36.6 | 64.0 |
| Oxford | 26 | 312 | 8.0 | 14.4 |
| Medway | 4 | 146 | 12.3 | 21.6 |
| Milton Keynes | 5 | 95 | 9.5 | 17.7 |
| Reading | 14 | 162 | 4.8 | 8.5 |
| Slough and Heathrow | 62 | 595 | 58.8 | 116.2 |
| South East | 376 | 3266 | 197.3 | 356.3 |
Game Development Meetups & Groups:
- Brighton Game Collective (Brighton)
- Brighton Indies (Brighton)
- Brighton Unity Group (Brighton)
- Guildford Game Developers (Guildford)
- Oxford Indies (Oxford)
