GamesIndustry.biz and Ukie team up to inspire the next generation of games talent

Friday 26 August 2016 - London, United Kingdom – Ukie Careers Bar and GamesIndustry.biz Career Fair return to EGX to bring industry wisdom to stars of tomorrow

Ukie, the trade body for the UK games and wider interactive entertainment industry, and GamesIndustry.biz, the world’s leading video games trade website, have today announced a renewed partnership to inspire and educate the next generation of games industry talent about how to build a successful career in the sector.

The GamesIndustry.biz Career Fair, running throughout EGX on 22-25 September, is the unique careers and education area at EGX. Featuring a range of careers and education exhibitors, accessible advice from developers and educators, and unique networking opportunities, the Career Fair gives everyone a chance to get closer to the games industry.

Ukie will once again bring its popular Ukie Careers Bar to EGX, featuring talks by Video Games Ambassadors from some of the biggest names in the UK games business. The talks will deliver expert advice from all disciplines in the games industry, from programming and design to publishing careers in PR, marketing and community management.

Over 30 of Ukie’s Video Games Ambassadors will also be at the Careers Bar throughout the fair to meet future games industry stars to talk about their games industry experiences and career histories. The industry volunteers will also give one-to-one advice on study choices or career paths, and give personalised job application and portfolio advice. Visitors to the stand are encouraged to bring CVs and work portfolios to the Careers Bar to make the most out of this one-to-one opportunity.

Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO of Ukie, said, “The Ukie Careers Bar is an unique opportunity for the next generation of games talent to meet and pick the brains of games industry experts about building a fulfilling career in the sector. The Video Games Ambassadors can provide one-to-one advice which is invaluable to those just starting out in their career or those considering a career change. We’ve seen huge success from the Careers Bar in the past few years and so we’re delighted to be bringing it back to EGX, sharing the expertise of our network, and inspiring the games stars of the future.”

David Lilley, Event Director of EGX, said “EGX has really benefited from the contribution Ukie has made by running the popular Careers Bar at our GamesIndustry.biz Career Fair. At EGX, it’s not just about playing games, but also exploring games culture and inspiring the next generation of games makers. The feedback we get from schools, colleges and universities alike, who all bring coach loads of students in their thousands to EGX, is that the GamesIndustry.biz Career Fair featuring the Ukie Careers Bar is a vital part of their enjoyment of the show. We look forward to welcoming Ukie and another great lineup of games industry experts to EGX this year.”

Announcement of the speakers and VGAs on the Careers Bar will follow.

For more information about the Ukie Careers Bar, the GamesIndustry.biz Career Fair and the EGX event, please visit: www.egx.net/egx

-ENDS –



Contacts
For all press enquiries, please contact Sophie Densham press@ukie.org.uk or @ukiesophie

About UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie)
Ukie (UK Interactive Entertainment) is the only trade body for the UK's games and interactive entertainment industry. A not-for-profit, it represents businesses of all sizes from small start-ups to large multinational developers, publishers and service companies, working across online, mobile apps, consoles, PC, eSports, VR and AR.
Ukie aims to support, grow and promote member businesses and the wider UK games and interactive entertainment industry by optimising the economic, cultural, political and social environment needed for businesses to thrive.
Ukie works closely with the sector to influence government and decision makers, lobbying successfully for the 2014 Video Games Tax Relief, the UK Games Fund, and the Next Gen Skills campaign which resulted in a new Computer Science Curriculum. Ukie makes connections for businesses and help them access the opportunities a digital economy offers, via a successful International Trade programme, running UK Games Industry stands at the biggest international industry events.

It promotes the industry by working with the media to raise awareness of the sector’s positive cultural and economic contribution, as well as the societal benefits of games. Ukie runs askaboutgames.com, where families can learn about safe and sensible online practices, parental controls and age ratings.

Ukie’s skills work serves to increase inclusion and diversity, advocating a STEAM approach to education. Initiatives include the Digital Schoolhouse (DSH), Video Games Ambassadors (VGAs), a Student Membership scheme, and a professional development programme.

Ukie commissioned the Blueprint for Growth report in 2015, an independent review of the UK games industry with recommendations for decision makers in Parliament for how the industry can grow.

In 2016 Ukie partnered with Film London to deliver Games London, a ground breaking new three-year programme to promote the UK as the games capital of the world, the focal point of which is the annual London Games Festival.

Website: ukie.org.uk
Twitter: @uk_ie
Facebook: Ukie
Linked in: Ukie