The region’s biggest esports event has returned for its second year, as five colleges announce a partnership with Tech South West.

Esports, or competitive gaming, is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, with a global revenue of over $1bn and an audience of 474m in 2021, according to Newzoo.

The first South West Esports Festival took place in February this year, hosted by Exeter College and Tech South West. Sixteen teams took part, from organisations including the Exeter Chiefs, the Met Office, Jurassic Fibre, Ashfords LLP, Devon County Council, Ghyston and Singer Instruments, with Bath-based software firm Rocketmakers taking home the trophy.

Now, Tech South West and five major colleges from across the region are joining forces to showcase the leading role the South West can play in this booming sector.

In early 2023, Bridgwater & Taunton College, City College Plymouth, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, Cornwall College and Exeter College will each host a regional heat for the tournament, in which corporate teams from across the South West will take part.

The top three teams from each heat will go through to the final, hosted by Exeter College at their flagship Digital and Data Centre during May half term.

As winners of the inaugural festival in February this year, Rocketmakers will automatically qualify for the final.

Rory Mason, Vice Principal of Quality of Education at The Cornwall College Group, said: “We are delighted to be at the forefront of the dynamic and booming gaming industry, training the next generation of esports stars and esports facilitators. 

“This event will give businesses in Cornwall the chance to have a fantastic fun day out, energise their teams through a thrilling gaming tournament and get the chance to go to the regional final in Exeter. They will also get to mix with other businesses and organisations in the county, which will only help to strengthen their own business ties and opportunities.”

The festival will showcase the careers available in the sector, and provide an opportunity for students at the colleges to assist with the delivery of the festival and use their marketing, event management and organisational skills in a real-world environment.

The event will also shine a spotlight on the cutting edge facilities available in the South West.

Sam Pomeroy, Programme Lead at City College Plymouth, said: ““The college is excited to be part of this event which we hope will be mutually beneficial for students and employers and offer great networking opportunities for all concerned. There will be a cross-college effort to arrange this high-profile event, with students from a variety of departments able to put their developing skills into practice.”

“Esports is one of the fastest growing industries in the country and as an outstanding college we are proud to have spearheaded the first esports festival in the south west earlier this year.

“We are delighted that next year it’s going to be bigger and better with esports festivals, not only at our college, but across the region. This is a huge statement for Further Education Colleges, the role they play in the community, and the impact they can have when working in collaboration.”

Rob Bosworth, Deputy CEO, Exeter College

Ben Pople, Higher Education Course Leader at Bridgwater & Taunton College, said: “The rapid growth of esports is opening up exciting new career opportunities across the globe – whether in marketing, event management, games development, Computing or competitive gaming itself. 

At Bridgwater & Taunton College we are delighted to be supporting young people to develop their skills in these areas, and to be showcasing the potential for the South West to become a beacon of esports in the UK. The festival will be a great showcase for the region and for the facilities, the innovation and the talented young people that we are so lucky to have.”

Nikki Livingstone, Esports Lecturer and Academy Coach at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, said: “South Gloucestershire and Stroud College is proud to be supporting the delivery of the South West Esports Festival, and showcasing the fantastic opportunities associated with the esports industry. We are now in our second year of running the Pearson Esports BTEC at SGS College and we also have a dedicated Esports Academy that specialises in VALORANT and Rocket League. Our students will benefit from helping to deliver the festival, as organisations from across the region come together to compete.”

Tech is already the fastest growing part of the South West economy, with esports expected to play an increasingly significant role in the sector in the coming decade.

“The South West is home to some fantastic digital facilities and is a powerhouse of createch innovation. These factors, combined with a disproportionately high number of technical students and a highly collaborative community, put the region in pole position as the UK’s natural home of esports innovation.

“We are delighted to be working with colleges from across the South West to showcase the region’s strengths and promote the opportunities associated with the rise of esports.”

Dan Pritchard, co-founder and director, Tech South West

Following the amazing achievement of winning two national finals in the British Esports Association’s League of Legends tournament, Exeter College is excited to launch their Esports Academy giving students who are interested in competitive gaming a chance to shine in the industry. 

The Esports sector has grown hugely in recent years and is an extremely popular choice of study for young people today.  Exeter College offers an Esports course for students who wish to develop their skills in the business and management of Esports.

Participation and growth of the Esports course led to the college’s decision to develop an Esports Academy – giving students the chance to become a professional player. 

Students on the Esports course will ultimately manage the players on the academy and help promote and organise tournaments for the players with national gaming organisations such as the British Esports Association.

Students will need to have top scores in their game public ranking to be considered for a place on the academy and invited to trial.

Each academy team will have their own dedicated production and management team, made up from students on the Esports course, who will produce live streams, shout casts, performance reviews, arrange games and matches, handle social media management, event management, branding, marketing and will maximise the health and wellbeing of the players on the academy so they can perform at their best and build a professional profile in a supported environment. 

Exeter College student, Daisy Batchelor, was involved in helping to shape the Esports Academy, she said:

“The academy is great as it focuses on the players, game play and competing against other colleges, whereas students on the Esports course learn how to look after the players. Last year I worked on the pre-Esports academy through my enrichment activities and it hugely improved my gaming skills. I’m so excited to trial for the Esports academy this September.”  

John Laramy CBE, Principal and Chief Executive at Exeter College said: 

“Esports is one of the fastest growing industries in the country, worth over £7 billion a year to the UK.  As an outstanding college we constantly review and refine our curriculum offer.  As a result, we are delighted that we will be able to launch an Esports Academy from September, to enable young people to experience the world of Esports alongside their core academic or vocational programme.  This new academy will be supported by dedicated staff and stunning resources in the new Digital and Data Centre.  Our aim is to become a leading college for Esports and play our part in the success and growth of the industry.” 

Employer Adam Stone, Managing Director at Rokk Media provides insights into the Esports industry and explains that the gaming sector now eclipses all other forms of entertainment combined, he said:

“It’s a phenomenon that has steadily grown beyond the stereotypes of the 80s to now be the default form of participation entertainment for the majority of 18-35 year olds with an almost equal gender split. Unlike TV, cinema or pop music however, video gaming offers an immediate opportunity for competition with friends or strangers, for fun or for profit. Where there is competition, there is sport and where there is sport there is an almost infinite array of commercial opportunities to support it. Big money comes to the super-elite eSport players but also to their agents, event organisers, promoters, marketers, social media managers, merchandise manufacturers, ticket sellers, event owners and on and on. This is not a fad, this is the future, this is a future that exists today.” 

The Exeter College Esports Academy, based in a state-of-the-art Esports room in the new Digital and Data Centre, will be open to applications from September. The Esports room is equipped with high specification gaming PCs, monitors and peripherals. Every aspect of the design of this room is geared towards the top level of gaming. 

The Esports Academy is open to all students at Exeter College and is the perfect opportunity for learners to improve their competition skills and be part of an elite team.  Find out more about Esports at Exeter College and current students’ recent success at the British Esports Association Championship Finals in Nottingham.