London Waypoint Launch - Supercharging Social Mobility in the London videogames sector
Join us for the launch of the UK’s first ‘Waypoint’ - a regional support framework for tackling social mobility in the UK games industry. This new initiative, launched by the non-profit, Into Games, will be the first of its kind, aiming to create a holistic package of opportunity from school and into work.
This event is invite-only for regional educators, local government, game studios, and grassroots career and skills organisations to find out more and get involved. Attendees will;
Get an Introduction to the Waypoint programme and associated Difficulty Level research that back up its recommendations.
Hear from other organisations about what currently works
Help build a local coalition to help take the work forward
Agenda
2 pm - Arrive
2.10 pm - Introduction: Declan Cassidy, CEO of Into Games will speak about the recently released Difficulty Level report and the vision for a regional approach to social mobility in games employment
2.25 pm - Why Lewisham? Council cabinet member for culture and communities, Councillor Edison Huynh will explain why Lewisham is the perfect place for a Waypoint.
2.35 pm - Flash Talk 1: Downham Games Festival 2023: A look back at a career event in the heart of a local London community in Downham, in the borough of Lewisham and what we can learn from it. Presented by Angela Brown of Circle Collective together with some of the young Ambassadors that took part.
2.45 pm - Flash Talk 2: Videogames careers in schools: Exploring the importance of getting games careers into schools as early as possible with Digital Schoolhouse CEO, Shahneila Saeed.
2.55 pm - Flash Talk 3: Finding and Supporting Talent at Further Education: How college games courses are a hotbed of diversity and how soft skills can help spot talent early with Micheal Farrow-Killick, Head of Games Cambridge College.
3.05 pm Flash Talk 4: Cracking a Career in games: A lived experience of the university pathway: Hearing directly from someone from an under-resourced background about their journey with Monroe Botan from Frontier Developments.
3.15 pm - Break ---------------------------
3.20 pm - Flash Talk 5: Finding and Supporting Underresourced Talent at University: How bursaries can successfully support talent into work with Simay Sevik, Development Manager at Westminster University.
3.30 pm - Flash Talk 6: Making a difference: A case study from Electric Square and Lively Studios: A look at how a AAA studio is making a difference with Talent Acquisition Specialist Dave Chin.
3.40 pm - Wrap up and Next Steps
4 pm - Networking
4.30 pm - Post-event drinks and nibbles