Skip to content
‘E-Sports is bigger than Holywood’
Exeter College esports event (image courtesy: Dan Pritchard: Co-founder of Tech South West)
The reigions biggest esport festival at Exeter College
The biggest esports event of its kind in the Southwest, has come to a close after a showdown of over 30 corporate teams hosted by Exeter College.
The festival was supported by ultrafast broadband provider Jurassic Fibre, software engineering firm Rowe, tech marketing agency Program and fan engagement platform Filmily.
Heat events took place at Cornwall College, City College Plymouth, South Gloucestershire College and Bridgwater & Taunton College ahead of the final showdown in Exeter.
Alongside the gaming, attendees to the event took part in an industry roundtable discussing the future of the industry in the South West and an interactive cyber escape room run by the Police SW Regional Cyber Crime Unit.
Rob Bosworth, Vice Principal and Deputy CEO at Exeter College, said: “The esports movement is building, and I believe colleges have an essential role in maintaining the momentum.
“It’s been fantastic to build on the success of last year’s Esports Festival and bring colleges and businesses from across the South West together.
In the last year we have seen esports grow in the UK with it now being represented at events like the Commonwealth Games so we can see it is vital to provide students with the opportunity to perform in this type of arena”.
We are seeing our esports students go on to a wide range of successful careers due to the highly transferable skills they are learning here at college. I look forward to seeing where the Esports Festival 2024 will take us!”
Exeter College students were involved in making sure the day ran smoothly. Charlie Stone, currently studying A Levels, is hoping to progress to the HNC in Esports at the college next year.
He said; “Today’s been interesting because I’ve met people I never would have interacted with, met businesses I didn’t know existed in the South West and it’s nice to know they are committed to pushing out esports.
“I’ve been helping out officiating all the games, making sure they run smoothly and sorting out any tech issues which is great experience and it’s been a brilliant atmosphere.”
Tech South Wst co-founder Dan Pritchard said: “E-Sports is huge and gaming is bigger than Hollywood… it is a global business and the South West needs to wake up
The global rise of esports brings opportunities for gamers, event organisers, developers and creatives to pursue great careers in tech, and the South West of England is well positioned to support and take advantage of this growth.
“With strong universities, tech hubs and college groups, we are building a strong pool of creative and tech talent. We are delighted to be working with Exeter College and our partners to showcase the opportunities the industry brings to the South West tech ecosystem, its young people, and the regional economy.”
