Created by Richard Lever.
The video game industry contributes significantly to the UK’s cultural and economic output, supporting 73,000 jobs in a market worth £7.63 billion in 2024.
Gaming permeates all age groups and demographics – from mobile gamers on the morning commute to players immersed in AAA titles, VR experiences, ande
Sports competitions.Having doubled in size since 2013, including substantial growth during COVID-19, the market has flattened more recently.Pressures are mounting on all sides. Beyond the stuttering UK economy and rising operational costs, the industry faces constant disruption: evolving distribution models, emerging technologies, AI adoption, and discoverability challenges in an oversaturated market.Global competition is also intensifying. While the UK offers Video Games Expenditure Credit (VGEC), other countries are offering other tax credit schemes and actively developing skills, competing for talent and investment.The future of the UK video game industry will be defined not only by creative excellence but by financial discipline and operational agility.ERA Group has established a dedicated division to help UK video-game developers, publishers, and support services optimise their processes and costs without compromising creative output or project quality. The division is led by Richard Lever, a gaming veteran with 30 years’ experience running global operations for major publishers and studios including Eidos, Square Enix, and Bethesda (before and after the Microsoft acquisition).Typical areas of focus for UK games companies include:
- Time & Control – Handling the heavy lifting around research, tenders, implementation and ongoing monitoring, while clients retain approval and control.
- Sector Expertise – Bringing 15–20+ years of category-specific experience, with benchmarking across market rates and emerging best practices.
- Comprehensive Category Coverage – From IT hardware and software (SaaS optimisation and cloud audits) to facilities management, merchant card fees, FX costs, ESG and sustainable procurement, managed print, office supplies, insurance, R&D tax credits, travel, logistics and more.
For more information, please speak to your ERA consultant.
Contact Richard Lever
