The North of England is proving to be a powerhouse for the UK’s video games industry, with the North West and North East emerging as two of only three regions in the country to grow their workforce over the last year.

New data from TIGA, the trade association for the UK games industry, shows that while traditional hubs like London and the South East saw heavy job losses, the North’s "digital clusters" have remained remarkably resilient.

Between May 2024 and September 2025, the North West saw its development headcount grow by 1.9%, while the North East recorded a 0.8% increase. This comes at a time when the wider UK sector experienced a widespread contraction.
A tale of two Norths

The North West has firmly established itself as the UK’s third-largest games hub after London and the South East. It now employs 3,170 full-time staff across 156 companies, accounting for 13.3% of the entire UK workforce.

Meanwhile, the North East has strengthened its position as a key regional player. With 1,601 staff across 66 companies, the region now represents nearly 7% of the national industry.

However, the picture across the North was not universally positive. Yorkshire & Humber faced a tougher period, seeing its workforce shrink by 12.1%—a loss of 178 roles—reflecting the broader challenges facing the sector nationally.

Region	2025 Share of UK Workforce	Growth/Decline (2024–25)
North West	13.3%	+1.9%
North East	6.7%	+0.8%
Yorkshire & Humber	5.4%	-12.1%

National context

The North’s growth is even more impressive when compared to the double-digit declines seen in the South West (24.5%) and Northern Ireland (25.2%). Even London, the UK's largest cluster, shed nearly 10% of its development roles.

Dr Richard Wilson OBE, CEO of TIGA, noted that the North West’s performance, in particular, shows that the UK's gaming success is no longer solely dependent on the capital.

“At a time when much of the UK games industry has faced contraction, the North East’s ability to grow development employment is particularly encouraging. It underlines the importance of regional ecosystems and long-term investment in skills and talent.”

Strength in established studios

While the number of new "start-up" businesses fell across almost every part of the UK, the North’s ability to keep hiring is being put down to its established studios and a steady flow of local talent.

By maintaining a strong base of experienced developers, the North of England continues to play a vital role in keeping the UK’s £7 billion games industry on the global map.