Ukie hopes its new diversity census will be the ‘most detailed analysis on the diversity of the industry’s workforce ever conducted’

Ukie and University of Sheffield have partnered up to analyse the diversity make up of the UK video game industry. 

The ten-minute UK Games Industry Diversity Census aims to produce the “most detailed analysis on the diversity of the industry’s workforce ever conducted” by asking people about their current roles, diversity profile, and backgrounds through an online survey which will be independently administered and analysed by University of Sheffield experts.

“The anonymised data will then be aggregated and used to form a high level analysis of the make-up of the UK games industry,” a press release from Ukie stated. “This representative data on diversity will then be fed back to industry and to government, helping to inform policy and drive positive transformation in the industry.”

There are two ways industry staff can contribute to the census; larger games businesses will be able to procure a pack from Ukie, which includes additional legal and process documentation to fill in the survey, whilst smaller games businesses or individuals working in the sector can fill it in directly.

Companies such as SEGA, Jagex Creative Assembly, Hutch Games, Ustwo Games, Dovetail Games, Mediatonic, Coatsink, NaturalMotion and nDreams have already committed to supporting the initiative, as well as industry organisations POC in Play and Women in Games.

“This new Census will give us for the first-time a crucial understanding of the diversity make-up of the games industry and we’re calling on everyone who currently works for a UK based-games businesses to complete it,” said Ukie CEO, Dr Jo Twist. “We know as an industry, that more needs to be done to improve diversity, to make the sector an inclusive and welcoming place for people of all backgrounds to want to work.  

“By taking part in the census, businesses and individuals working in the sector can help us produce the evidence base we need to drive positive transformation in the sector.” 

“It’s really important that as many people, from as many businesses as possible take part in this census; from small studios like mine to big multinationals operating in the UK,” added POC in Play founding member and Ukie Board member Des Gayle, who also founded Altered Gene. “Every answer to the census will help us get a much better idea of the state of play in the industry when it comes to diversity. So please do take ten minutes of your time to help us improve our sector for years to come.”