Home > The HUB > News How the Esports BTEC helped this student find his niche, break records and manage a team in the Student Racing League How the Esports BTEC helped this student find his niche, break records and manage a team in the Student Racing League British Esports 16 min read | 9 Feb 2026 What if you’re an Esports BTEC student but you’re not a fan of some of the popular multiplayer titles like VALORANT and Rocket League? The latest article in our series of esports student articles is written by Flynn Winslow, who is studying the Esports BTEC at New College Swindon. He explains how he carved a different path to become team manager for the college’s F1 Student Racing League. In this guest piece, Flynn shares his personal journey through esports, explores alternative pathways into the industry and explains how he produced a livestream that broke the college’s engagement records, in a bid to encourage others who may feel uncertain about their place in esports. When people think of esports careers, they often imagine professional players who’ve spent years competing in tournaments. My journey has been very different. I’ve never played competitively, and don’t have any tournament wins to speak of. And for a while, I thought that meant I didn’t belong in esports at all. My first exposure to the industry wasn’t through playing, but through watching. Back in 2019, I tuned into the Clash of Clans World Championship, and it opened my eyes to the sheer scale of esports and its significant reach. That moment sparked my interest, even though I wasn’t a competitive gamer myself. It planted the seed that esports was something bigger than just playing games: that it was a global industry built on diverse skills and not just competitive play. Fast forward to starting my BTEC Esports course at New College Swindon, and I quickly realised how much of the conversation revolved around competitive titles like Valorant and Rocket League. My classmates would talk about tournaments, championships and their own tournament experiences, and I couldn’t join in, as those weren’t games I knew. I had no competitive background, and for a while I seriously believed that would be a problem. For me, it felt almost absurd to be an esports student who wasn’t involved in competitive play. At one point, I even considered leaving the course altogether. I constantly wondered how I could possibly succeed in esports if I wasn’t a player myself. “I constantly wondered how I could succeed if I wasn’t a player” What changed everything was the guidance from my lecturers. They reminded me that esports encompasses more than just playing competitively, and emphasised that skills such as leadership and communication are equally vital to success. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to stay on the course and ultimately thrive. Rather than dwelling on what I hadn’t done competitively, I shifted focus to the strengths I could bring. I realised that esports is an ecosystem, and that players form just one part of it. Behind every team, tournament and broadcast are people managing logistics, producing content and building communities, alongside many other areas. During my first year on the course, I found significant interest in social media and digital content creation, and took a leading role in my college’s esports-focused social media campaign during the summer of last year. My content broke several records; I produced the most viewed livestream of the year, outperforming even some of our Student Champs tournament streams. Another highlight for me came during the course’s enterprise unit, where I delivered a business pitch that my lecturers felt was so strong they shared it with several industry professionals. The feedback I received from them was extremely positive, and it reinforced to me that the skills I was developing in esports education had real-world value beyond the classroom. The New College Swindon esports lab And moving on to the present, I’m currently serving as the Team Manager for my college’s inaugural F1 Esports team, which competes in the Williams F1 Student Racing League in partnership with British Esports. Moreover, I will also be acting as the lead organiser for an in-person Valorant tournament my class are hosting in March 2026. These achievements gave me the belief that I could contribute meaningfully to the industry, even without a competitive background. They also helped me understand that esports is a space where diverse talents can flourish. My decision to take the BTEC Esports course came from a mix of curiosity and encouragement. Watching the Clash of Clans World Championship first exposed me to the industry, but it was the encouragement to pursue something I was interested in that gave me the confidence to enrol. Moreover, the support of my lecturers, and their reminders to me that esports education is not limited to gaming, ultimately led to me staying on the course and building the success I enjoy today. “Esports is a space where diverse talents can flourish” Too often, I find that many people assume that tournament experience is the only route into esports. My journey and subsequent success prove otherwise. Esports thrives on a wide range of roles, from managers and coaches to content creators, broadcasters and event organisers. Skills like communication and leadership are every bit as important to esports as competition itself. By sharing my story, I want to challenge the prevailing sentiment that you need to be a pro player to belong in esports. The industry extends far beyond tournaments and competitions, relying on people from all backgrounds and skillsets to sustain its success. My journey reflects how academic study, leadership and practical involvement can open doors in esports. From watching the Clash of Clans World Championship in 2019, to nearly leaving my course, to managing a team and producing record-breaking social media content, I’ve discovered that esports is about far more than competition. I hope my journey encourages others who may feel uncertain about their place in esports. You absolutely don’t have to be a pro gamer to make an impact. Esports as an industry is bigger than competition, and there’s room for everyone to contribute. ‘The Esports BTEC has allowed Flynn to thrive’ – lecturer comments Chris Baxter, Programme Leader & Esports Lecturer (Lv3 & Lv2), New College Swindon “When I first met Flynn, he was someone who preferred to stay in his comfort zone, quiet, reserved, and not naturally inclined to communicate or engage in conversations. Group discussions and collaborative tasks were often challenging for him, and he tended to avoid situations that required speaking up or taking the lead. “The structured environment of the Esports BTEC course, combined with opportunities to explore his interests, gave Flynn the confidence to step forward and start expressing himself. Over time, he has not only become more comfortable sharing his ideas but has also developed a genuine enthusiasm for connecting with others and contributing to team projects. A great example of this is how Flynn created his own LinkedIn profile and began using it to connect with industry professionals, share updates on his journey, and showcase his progress. This proactive approach demonstrates not only his growing confidence but also his ability to see where he fits within the wider Esports industry. “Flynn’s passion for F1 also became a defining part of his journey. When the opportunity arose to enter a team into the racing league, he was the obvious choice for team manager. In this role, he has demonstrated incredible attention to detail, creating professional presentations and delivering them to drivers. These are tasks he would never have attempted before joining the course, and they highlight his growth in leadership and organisational skills. “Moments like these show how the Esports course has allowed Flynn to thrive, grow in confidence, and develop skills that will serve him well in the future. His journey is a clear example of how education in Esports can unlock potential and create pathways into exciting careers. ‘Flynn’s journey is a powerful reminder of how esports education can unlock potential’ Hannah Thandi, Deputy Head of Faculty (Digital & Professional), New College Swindon “When Flynn first enrolled on the course alongside his twin, he was quiet and unsure of his place. He even questioned whether the programme was right for him, as he wasn’t particularly drawn to playing competitive esports titles himself. “What quickly became clear, however, was Flynn’s ability to reflect honestly and communicate openly about his interests. Through this, we discovered his real passion: engaging others with esports as an industry and championing its role in education. “Since then, Flynn has grown into a confident and articulate advocate for esports in further education. He regularly supports the teaching team by positively representing the course and department, embodying what many programme leaders know to be true – that students thrive when they are encouraged to pursue subjects they care deeply about. For Flynn, the esports qualification has been just one part of a much broader journey of personal development. “College life can be challenging, and Flynn has faced his share of difficulties. Yet his resilience and determination have stood out. He has embraced the idea of striving for progress rather than perfection, and of meeting challenges with grace rather than judgement. “The skills Flynn has developed are impressive and wide-ranging. He has built strong capabilities in social media content creation and community management, demonstrated leadership and team management, and shown a maturity and professionalism that will serve him well beyond college. “Flynn’s journey is a powerful reminder of how esports education can unlock potential, not only in competitive play, but in the wider industry and in the personal growth of students. ‘The Esports BTEC has allowed the realisation of untapped talent and a growing confidence and maturation’ Teresa Johnson, New College Swindon “Flynn has demonstrated resilience and fortitude in his journey, and through this he has found his strengths and reconciled his perceived limitations. “The course has enabled him to work through periods of deep discomfort, yet the mixture of units has allowed the realisation of untapped talent and a growing confidence and maturation. As a reflective learner he recognises that the depth and variety of units have supported this process. “Esports is much more than gaming, and as the industry is diverse the learners reflect this process. Flynn has become an essential part of the student voice, and his constructive feedback is thoughtful and insightful.” About the author & New College Swindon/North Star Esports Name: Flynn Winslow Role: Team Manager, F1 Esports Team School/College Name: New College Swindon Team Names: North Star Esports Game Titles Played: F1 A huge thank you to Flynn Winslow and the New College Swindon lecturers for this guest article. Sign up to Williams’ Student Racing League Sign up to the separate British Esports Student Champs and see your school or college compete in other games here: New teams can sign up to the Student Champs here Existing teams can sign up here News Advice British Esports College Resource Education Education Guest Articles News Opinions School Advice School Resource Student Advice Student Champs Student Champs Student Champs Student Resource Teacher Advice Teacher Resource Share: Link copied British Esports View all articles
