UK Computer Games Programmers – A brain drain ?

UK computer games programmers are increasingly being head-hunted by companies based in the US and Canada according to Procorre, an international professional services consultancy that operates across 120 countries. Te company is warning of a ‘brain drain’ of UK IT talent as over 50 per cent of the online gaming job adverts aimed at UK games programmers are for jobs in North America (USA and Canada). In contrast, only 20 per cent of jobs ads aimed at UK based games programmers are for UK based jobs. Jobs aimed at UK games programmers but based in Mainland Europe also outstrip those based in the UK . 

There have been some steps taken by the government to prevent the movement of gaming professionals overseas through the offer of limited tax breaks. Game developers are able to claim a 25 per cent tax break on the production of games that pass a test based on whether the game is set in the UK, how many characters are from the UK, and whether the production team is based in the UK. UK games developers want to extend this to games all developed in the UK.

Procorre says that the UK has developed particular expertise in computer games development, which requires a combination of technical, creative and artistic skills. The UK has also become a world leader in online gaming such as spread betting and online gambling as its regulatory regime is far less restrictive than other countries such as the USA and Germany.

via Worldwide competition for gaming talent is taking talent from UK. | Brain Drain Game | The Global Recruiter Magazine.

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