Ukie

Today, Ukie launches a landmark proposal: the introduction of a Digital Creativity GCSE. As the UK faces increasing demand for creative digital skills across all sectors, this new qualification would close critical gaps in the current curriculum, equipping young people with the knowledge and confidence to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy. This proposal is backed by a group of cross-sector partners from the creative and educational industries, and a key part of our response to the government’s curriculum review. Our report highlights how this GCSE would: • Prepare students for high-reward careers by integrating creativity and technology. • Increase diversity in tech by making digital education more accessible. • Strengthen the UK’s economy by addressing skills shortages in key growth industries. This is a pivotal moment for education and the future workforce. Click the link below to find out you can get involved. 👉 Read the full report and get involved: https://zurl.co/lomt #DigitalCreativity #EducationReform #FutureSkills #EmpoweringTalent

I was honoured to be invited along with Ukie Board member and co-Founder of Cooperative Innovations Ltd, Simon Barratt to give evidence to the Lords Select Committee on Communications and Digital as part of their enquiry into #AI and scaling up for British businesses. The Committee session was in two parts, each of which involved a panel of industry experts and businesspeople. My panel was a bit of an all-star cast, sitting alongside Caroline Norbury, OBE (CEO of Creative UK), Paul Murphy (Partner at Lightspeed) and David Glick (Founder and CEO at Edge Investments). The main focus of our session was on whether the investment conditions and public policy in the UK are doing everything they can to help 'createch' (creative technology) businesses to scale-up and to harness the potential of AI. Caroline focused on the fundamental importance of creativity in a digital economy, and the need to avoid 'over-fetishising' technology as a magic bullet for sustainable growth. Paul spoke hugely eloquently about creative talent as the fundamental factor in the success of creative technology businesses. David pointed out the need to 'unbundle' the different sub-sectors within creative technology, and to understand the specific differences between them. He pointed out the difference between companies that scale by breaking new ground in technology and those that harness existing technologies to deliver new products or services. David also spoke brilliantly about the 'soft power' impact of the UK's #createch sectors and the example they set in social mobility. In Paul's words, "this is a sector which celebrates talent, not pedigree". I was able to talk about how the video games and interactive entertainment industry is delivering both direct economic growth (in excess of £6bn GVA per annum) and indirect benefits to the wider economy through technology spillover - for example in the use of the Unreal 5 engine in TV and film production. It was an opportunity to highlight the imminent risk to the UK's world-leading video games industry if we cannot secure above-the-line support from Government, including enhancements to tax reliefs, during the lifetime of this Parliament. The discussion looked in depth at the 'money supply' for video games and the creative industries, addressing some important points about the lack of funding that is co-designed with industry to meet our specific needs, as well as the challenge of finding UK equity backing to support businesses in scaling-up. Supercharged, our 5-year strategy, has set the ambition for this to be the most pro-games Parliament in British history and this session is further evidence of the genuine engagement we are seeing from Government and Peers with our industry as a tremendous growth opportunity. Both sessions were broadcast on Parliament TV and can be watched again at https://lnkd.in/ekKHX5-n

🚨 Later today, Ukie CEO Nick Poole OBE will be giving evidence to the House of Lords’ Scaling Up - AI and Creative Tech Inquiry. This inquiry is examining the challenges facing SMEs in scaling up within the UK, with a particular focus on firms working in artificial intelligence and creative technology. It seeks to identify the actions required from both Government and industry over the next five years to unlock the economic potential of these sectors and establish the UK’s competitive advantage on the global stage. As the representative body for the UK’s video games industry, Ukie is committed to advocating for the innovative businesses at the heart of this sector. Nick will offer expert insights into the opportunities and barriers faced by SMEs, highlighting how the games industry is driving advancements in creative technology and contributing to economic growth. 📺You can watch the enquiry here: https://zurl.co/q6le #CreativeTech #AI #SMEs #VideoGames #UKInnovation #ScalingUp #Supercharged

🎮 ICYMI Ukie Members Day 2025 returns – A Day to Celebrate, Collaborate, and Connect! We’re excited to invite all Ukie members to this year’s Members Day, a free-to-attend event designed exclusively for our vibrant community of games businesses. This is your chance to gain fresh insights, engage with industry peers, and help shape Ukie's ongoing projects. 🗓 Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 · 9:30am - 5pm GMT 📍 Location: Museum of London What’s on the agenda? ✅ Thought-provoking keynotes ✅ Interactive sessions on industry challenges and opportunities ✅ Networking with developers, publishers, and service providers ✅ An expo to showcase member innovations Whether you're here for the insights or to connect with like-minded professionals, this is the perfect opportunity to get the most from your Ukie membership. Spaces are limited—secure your spot today! https://zurl.co/tTGb Let’s celebrate the best of the UK games industry together! 🚀

📰 Ukie Download is out now! Last week we officially launched the call for a new Digital Creativity GCSE and we would love to hear from interested parties across the creative sectors. Find out how to get involved below 👇

🎮 Join us at the Ukie Education & Industry Mixer 2025! 🎓 Ukie is thrilled to announce the Digital Schoolhouse Education & Industry Mixer 2025, a unique event bringing educators, policymakers, and the games industry together to shape the future of digital creativity. 🗓 When: Tuesday 21st January 2025 📍 Where: Barclays, One Churchill Place London E14 5HP This mixer is your chance to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the conversation on how we can inspire the next generation of digital creators. With gaming and interactive entertainment continuing to lead innovation in the UK’s creative economy, we believe it’s time to take action. That’s why we're championing the call for a Digital Creativity GCSE. This new qualification will equip students with the skills to thrive in the games industry and other sectors that rely on digital innovation. Together, we can create an educational landscape that embraces creativity, technical skills, and innovation. 🎟️ Register now to secure your spot: https://zurl.co/XZ7s 📖 Read more about our call for a Digital Creativity GCSE: https://zurl.co/vPNP #Supercharged #EmpoweringTalent #UkieEducation

🔴ICYMI🔴 New Game Plus - a new London-based expo for upcoming games across all platforms! 👂Register to hear more first: newgameplus.uk #LGF25 #NewGamePlus #ngp

What makes the UK creative industries so exciting for international investors? We put the question to those in the know this week at Slush festival, as we invited founders, experts and investors to a panel event discussing investor sentiment around the UK and European video games sector 👇 Freya Shaw | Michael French | Spike Laurie | Film London | Slush | Chris Barton CMG | Adrian Walewski #slush2024

Games industry body Ukie have proposed a new GCSE in Digital Creativity to fill growing demand for skilled workers in the creative sector. The qualification would sit alongside the Computer Science GCSE, focusing on practical skills in areas such as audio production, visual design, and game development. The case for the qualification is outlined in a new report from UKIE, which describes the proposed new subject as a "perfect fusion of creativity, art, technology and science, the full breadth of STEAM skills that a 21st economy needs. Games Workshop Ltd co-founder Ian Livingstone has backed the proposals, saying it would "allow students to explore the full potential of technology, equipping them not just to consume the digital world, but to shape it". https://lnkd.in/eWZ3fxki

🍻 Join us for an evening of drinks and festivities at the Ukie office 🎄 Come along in your festive jumper (not essential) to network and meet friends old and new. We will have video games set up for some extra fun! There will be a festive raffle with all money raised going to SpecialEffect - this is a season for giving after all. Start: 17:30 - a cocktail will be waiting for you! Speeches: 18:30 Finish: 20:30 Members and non-members are welcome but make sure to register. A massive thank you to Green Man Gaming for sponsoring this event! https://zurl.co/22sS