National campaign launched to help address the issue.
January 5, 2024
[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Game Developer and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press]
Into Games :
Into Games launches a national campaign to support more working-class people into careers in the UK games sector.
Only 13% of UK games staff are from low-income backgrounds.
78% of people from working-class backgrounds employed in games believe the sector isn’t doing enough to level the playing field for those from low-income.
59% also believe the sector to be still inaccessible or very inaccessible to those from low-income backgrounds.
UK non-profit Into Games is declaring 2024 as the year the games sector starts its fightback on the dire social mobility stats highlighted in UKIE’s 2022 UK Games Industry Census. While the working class make up 30% of the UK population, only 13% work in UK game studios. This was first highlighted as a major issue in 2023 by journalist Sam Greer in a powerful YouTube piece via People Make Games.
Into Game's own ‘Difficulty Level’ research, released later this month, suggests that 78% of working-class people already in the games sector feel like not enough is being done to support new people coming in, with a huge 51% having felt othered during their career because of their class.
Social mobility overall in the UK isn’t improving, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies confirming that it is now at its worst in over 50 years. Games careers could offer a way up for many, delivering creative and positive work outcomes for young people who often connect deeply with video gaming, even when navigating challenging home lives.
Over the next 12 months, Into Games will implement its wide-reaching ‘Gameplan’ to help turn the tide and build the foundations for a fairer, more diverse sector. The plan, which highlights achievable delivery goals in 5 key areas, has been developed as a direct result of Into Games research and programme work conducted over the last four years.
The plan aims to:
Reach 20,000 young people in schools in areas of deprivation
Deliver four regional games and careers fairs in the heart of communities
Deliver an annual bursary aimed at supporting event, travel and equipment costs
Provide free training and mentorship for 150 people near work
Provide free leadership training for those from low-income already at work
Create at least 40 new in-studio work opportunities for people from low income with our national studio partners
Create a model for excellence in South London
Declan Cassidy, CEO of Into Games, said: “We think games is in a unique position to provide a real leg up for many people from low-income groups. Games are something that many are already deeply connected to, and we need them to be able to see that they have a place in the sector.”
"Having come from a working-class background myself, I am deeply aware of challenges that people face when having to make career decisions in difficult circumstances, and I believe that there is a wealth of untaped talent sitting right under noses if we provided a bit more support and stability at the right time and place."
“We need better access to training, financial support at early stages, and a joined-up approach at the regional level to make a difference. We think our Gameplan for 2024 provides a good foundation to start building this infrastructure based on existing programmes.”
Into Games, work is made possible by its close partnerships with over 20+ UK studios, including Ubisoft, nDreams, Jagex, 10:10 Studios, Studio Gobo and Electric Square. This is in addition to its close ties to the national games trade body UKIE and its high-profile educational programme UKIE Edu, which will play a key role in delivering successful outputs.
The organisation is raising delivery funds as part of the programme, intending to bring in £100,000 by April 2024. All funds raised go directly to plan delivery.
To see the full plan and help support delivery, people can visit https://gameplan2024.intogames.org/ for more information or email [email protected].
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Into Games
Into Games is a non-profit careers and skills development organisation founded in 2019 to provide more equitable pathways into the UK games industry. Every year, we help thousands of people explore careers in games and immersive through our work in schools and our national training programmes.
We focus our resources on developing pathways and support for those from low-income or challenging backgrounds, with 100% of all funds raised going into grassroots programme work and wider national advocacy.
https://intogames.org
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