Creative Industry | Paul Taylor

How much has the company grown since its establishment in Malta? How many people does it employ today?

TRC began its operations on the 1st September 2011 with just 3 employees. We are approaching 100-employee mark.

What projects is it currently working on?

TRC is family entertainment company that is creating new ways for kids to connect, play, and share with family and friends in the digital world.

What attracted TRC to set up shop in Malta?

What originally attracted TRC to being operations in Malta were the local talent pool and the support by Malta Enterprise.

The location of Malta was a big attraction. Malta also proved to have the raw talent base and the collective will to work with us to create success.

Did the local talent pool prove suitable for the company's needs?  

Yes, definitely. 88% of employees are EU Citizens. 52% of employees are Maltese. And, we have hired at all levels -- from Junior to Executive.  

Are there recruitment plans or targets in the works? What timeframe are these envisaged on?

We are constantly recruiting and successfully reaching our targets. For instance, in a recent recruitment drive for our QA department we recruited 15 new employees from over 300 applications.

What sort of training does TRC provide to its Maltese employees?

Besides on-the-job training, we also provide seminars and courses to our employees. These have included training courses in QA and Software, as well as Writing.

Does the local educational sector adequately provide education and encourage development in the creative industries?

Yes, it certainly does. Again, this aided in the decision to open TRC Family Entertainment in Malta, as the sector provides a large pool of potential employees. This year the University of Malta has set up a Masters in Game Design.

Could more be done in this regard?

I am happy that the will and strategy is in place to continue the successful development of this sector in Malta.

Do you feel that local teaching institutions, like MCAST and the University of Malta, are adequately linked to IT and creative industries?

We have collaborated with local teaching institutions like MCAST and the University of Malta on several fronts, including research projects and recruiting events.

TRC is currently developing an MMO. However the MMO sector is currently dominated by several heavyweights, the most famous of which being World of Warcraft.  What is TRC offering in order to attract users to its own gaming product?

At the heart of our offering is a gaming experience that brings families together - but we are delivering more than that. We believe the most engaging experiences are rooted in great stories that span generations and cultures. We plan to bring these stories to life across multiple forms of media with a relentless commitment to quality and safety.

What is the state of the Maltese creative industry today? Is it allowing TRC the space to develop and grow freely? Is there need for the creative industry to develop further?

The investments made by Malta Enterprise and the collaboration by educational institutions show commitment to our growth, and the creative sector as a whole. Based on the response to our career opportunities, we see much promise for the creative industry in Malta.

www.trcmediagroup.com