Supporting the Guildford Games Festival: A Conversation with Andrew Douthwaite

As a sponsor of the Guildford Games festival, we are always keen to engage with the local gaming community and discuss the business side of the industry

16 Feb 2026

By Mary Kacigeras

Our Guildford office has a long history of working alongside the creative and tech sectors, and it was a pleasure for Andrew Douthwaite to recently be interview by Hugh Wybourne from Guildford Games Festival. As a sponsor of the festival, we are always keen to engage with the local gaming community and discuss the business the industry.

During the interview, Andrew explored the transition from a creative project to a structured business, highlighting how specialised advisory can help founders stay focused on their craft.

Key discussion points:

Building a business structure: Many studios begin as small teams of friends. Andrew discussed how moving from a passion project to a commercial entity often requires a shift in how finance and reporting are managed, especially when taking on external investment.
The “Virtual Finance” approach: For many independent developers, hiring a full-time finance team isn’t practical. Andrew explained how a scalable, external finance function can provide the necessary compliance and director level support without the overheads.
Navigating industry incentives: With the complexities of Video Games Expenditure Credit (VGEC) and R&D tax claims, having a partner who understands the specific nuances of the games sector is vital for long term stability.

At Alliotts, we take pride in seeing our clients’ stories unfold, from the first tax credit claim through to international expansion. It was great to share these insights with the g.g fest community and celebrate the incredible talent coming out of Guildford.

Please follow this link if you would like to read the full interview: A Lesson in Business and Industry from Andrew Douthwaite of Alliotts