Swindon-based computer games development company Evil Twin has been named among England’s most creative businesses in a list that also highlights the contribution these firms make to the economy.
Evil Twin, which last year won a games industry award for its recently-launched strategic naval combat game Victory at Sea, joins some of the country’s most-innovative firms in the prestigious list devised by Creative England, the Government-backed funding and support organisation for English film, game and digital media companies. 
The firm employs nine people developing a range of games – its Victory at Sea stormed into the gaming top-seller charts soon after launch on the global Steam online digital platform last August. It is also for sale on Mac Store.
Victory at Sea also won the ‘Best Action/Adventure – Small Studio’ category at last year’s 2014 TIGA Games Industry Awards. Evil Twin has developed 17 games and apps, which also include the River Cottage Get Foraging mobile game made for Channel 4 for iOS, Android and Kindle devices.
Evil Twin is also a member of Creative England GamesLab South West – a programme of investment and support designed to aid and sustain the growth of the region’s burgeoning games industry.
The region is becoming a major player in the games industry – with Swindon firms having an important role. Last year independent Swindon games developer Fayju won the Best Game category at the Sparkies, the awards which showcase the West of England’s growing role as one of the UK’s most innovative regions for tech-related firms.
Its Amazing Frog? Game features Swindon as the backdrop to its character’s free-running exploits.
The Creative England 50 study showcases the firms across England from filmmakers to animators, game developers to scriptwriters that have turned a bright idea into a successful business.
Creative England has invested £14.5m in the creative industries over the past three years, creating 49 new start-ups and supporting more than 500 existing businesses.
The creative economy touches every sector, from health care to education to car insurance and now accounts for one in every 12 UK jobs, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Employment within the creative economy grew by 66,000 jobs in 2013 to reach 2.62m.
The Creative England report found that revenues generated by the sector – measured by gross value added – rose 10% between 2012 and 2013 to hit £76.9bn, or 5% of the total UK economy, an all-time high for the sector.
Creative companies are also punching well above their weight when it comes to exports. Some 8% of total UK service exports were generated by the creative industries in 2012, generating £17.3bn for the economy.
However Creative England chief executive Caroline Norbury said creative businesses face significant challenges.
“They suffer from skills shortages and from financial institutions that find it difficult to get out of their old habits and lend against intangible assets,” she said. “They suffer from an investment culture characterised by a limited appetite for taking risks.”
The Creative England 50 report is based on qualitative research using data points including Companies House, Bafta nominations, Creative England’s funding recipients and revenues, exports, impact on the local economy, growth, awards and innovation.
