Meeting of the Parliament 03 February 2026 [Draft]
I am grateful to Michael Marra for lodging the motion and for the opportunity to make a short contribution. The “Level Up Scotland” report and the strategic direction that it sets out for Scotland’s games sector represent a serious and evidence-led plan that recognises the sector’s economic value and, crucially, the need for better co-ordination across skills, education and enterprise support. In these difficult economic times, particularly for the north-east, I echo the comments in Mr Marra’s motion that a parliamentary debate about scaling the games economy in the way that is set out in the plan’s ambition would be welcome.
Although we have, rightly, heard a great deal about the contribution that is made by and in Dundee, I put on record that the sector is nationwide, as Martin Whitfield noted in an earlier intervention. There is strong and growing activity in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and the wider north-east. For example, North East Scotland College has been delivering industry-linked partnerships and e-sports provisions, investing in specialist facilities, building school-to-college partnerships and securing recognition for its work in digital education and inclusion. NESCol is the first Scottish college to be part of PlayStation first, which is an innovative collaboration with Sony Interactive Entertainment’s global academic programme. It gives the college access to PlayStation development tools and support, which enables the students to use the same hardware as is used by professional studios to build games for PlayStation platforms.
Furthermore, the college’s higher national diploma games design students have worked with Kemnay academy pupils through the Wood Foundation to build a virtual reality game demonstration that is aimed at helping users to learn sign language. It is a true partnership project: the school has the idea, the college team builds and delivers the platform and, ultimately, the pupils visit the Aberdeen city campus to see the results of the demo. Finally, following the launch of the e-sports hub at Fraserburgh campus last year, NESCol has expanded the principle to the Aberdeen city campus to give computing students access to advanced gaming equipment.
Let us be clear that, as has been noted, the game engine at NESCol is not only about games development; it is about transferable, vital skills that lend themselves to things such as the energy transition or farming. At the same time, Robert Gordon University continues to strengthen progression routes and degree-level provision for the sector, which is helping to retain talent in the region and support the skills pipeline that is rightly emphasised in the action plan. In fact, both of Aberdeen’s universities are hosting game jams, which provide opportunities for students to come together, get a brief and build a game over the following days.
It is good that Michael Marra has given us the opportunity to highlight an important report that provides a clear strategic direction for the sector as a whole, and to showcase the excellent work that is being done throughout the north-east and Scotland. I look forward to the minister’s response to this important debate.