British Esports and Sunderland College Extend Partnership to Foster Future Talent

Mimi Craig

7 min read | 27 Jun 2024

Forging New Pathways in Esports Education: British Esports and Sunderland College Strengthen Their Commitment to Developing the Next Generation of Industry Leaders

Sunderland, Thursday 27 June 2024 – British Esports, the national body for esports in the UK, and Sunderland College, the further education and higher education college based in Sunderland, are to extend their current partnership. In 2022, British Esports and Sunderland College announced a unique partnership which has seen the development of future talent and support in Sunderland for becoming a global hub for esports.

The national body and the college have previously combined their expertise to offer young people and adults the opportunity to gain the skills, knowledge and qualifications to prepare for a career in the rapidly growing esports industry and be at the forefront of new developments and will continue to do so in their extended partnership.

Toni Rhodes, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Education Partnership North East, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with British Esports to ensure our students gain the best experience to prepare them for a career in this dynamic, growth sector.

“I’m looking forward to continuing developing our relationship with British Esports and creating more opportunities for Sunderland and our students. Together we will be at the forefront of new developments and lead the way in creating pathways for young people to progress to an exciting career in esports and other digital industries.”

The esports courses are delivered at ‘The Place’ in Sunderland, part of the multi-million-pound National Esports Performance Campus (NEPC). The campus provides state-of-the-art facilities, training and investment that supports Sunderland, the North East and the UK in becoming globally recognised and capable of attracting and developing the world’s best esports talent.

Students will continue to have access to dedicated esports classrooms, performance rooms and streaming booths. The campus also plays host to regular esports events, community tournaments and recently announced the Young Learners – Esports Career Skills Programme summer camp, whilst also being a bootcamp space for the Team Great Britain Esports team.

British Esports President, Chester King, said: “We recognise the value that this extended partnership will continue to bring to Sunderland and the wider community across the North East, but also to the UK esports community. We are excited to be a part of the educational journey of the young people accessing the provision to support their progression into careers in our industry.”

In a unique position, where the provision is delivered from the National Esports Performance Campus and is supported by British Esports, Sunderland College offers a one year Level 2 Esports Diploma and a two year Level 3 Esports Extended Diploma. From September 2024, students can also enrol to the Level 4 Higher Nationals in Esports, which will also be delivered from the NEPC.

Sunderland College students also have the opportunity to join the Sunderland Seers esports team, currently made up of students from the college’s NextGen and esports programmes. The Seers take part nationally in the British Esports Student Champs, the largest grassroots esports competition in the UK where over 500 schools and colleges compete, having previously been crowned champions in League of Legends, Rocket League and Overwatch.

Sunderland Seers was founded in 2018 – with a real foundation in grassroots esports, all about development and striving to be the best. With the resources now available to the Sunderland Seers from the National Esports Performance Campus, students can benefit from the best-in-class hardware and a state-of-the-art performance environment.

To find out more or register to study the Level 2 BTEC in Esports, Level 3 Extended Diploma in Esports or Level 4 Higher Nationals in Esports, please visit the Sunderland College website.

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Contacts

Mimi Craig | Marketing Manager | British Esports | mc@britishesports.org

Kalam Neale | Head of Education | British Esports | kn@britishesports.org

Charlotte Keedy | Communications & Media Officer | Sunderland College | charlotte.keedy@educationpartnershipne.ac.uk

About British Esports 

Established in 2016, British Esports is the national body for esports in the UK.  As one of the world’s leading esports authorities, we are the recognised member of the Global Esports Federation for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and founding member of the International Olympic Committee Esports and Gaming Liaison Group.  From nationwide amateur grassroots competition to cutting edge esports curriculum and national representation on the global stage, we’re dedicated to increasing levels of esports awareness, improving esports standards, and inspiring future esports talent.  For more information and all the latest news, visit www.britishesports.org or follow British Esports on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitch, YouTube, TikTok.

About Sunderland College

Sunderland College, officially City of Sunderland College, is a further education and higher education college based in Sunderland, North East England. The enrolment includes approximately 5,000 students.. The College has three campuses across the city of Sunderland, and a sixth form, offering a wide range of academic and vocational provision for school leavers and adults. The College aims to develop and positively shape lives, communities and the economy through teaching, learning and development of skills. For more information please visit https://sunderlandcollege.ac.uk/.