GameHorizon's Nina Named Amongst UK Businesses' Top 500 Players

News by GamesIndustry International Contributor

Published on Dec. 3, 2007

For immediate release

Nina Cliff, business development manager of videogames industry business network, Codeworks GameHorizon, is celebrating after being named in the media category of the Courvoisier Future 500 - an exclusive list of individuals expected to play a key role in their respective sectors.

The list, printed in the Observer newspaper, recognised the talents of 500 of the most talented and promising individuals in the UK business world across ten categories: art and design, business, drink, fashion and retail, food, media, public life, science and innovation, sports and entertainment, and travel and leisure.

Nina, 30, has been instrumental in the growing success of Sunderland-based Codeworks GameHorizon, the leading business network for UK-based games companies - including developers, publishers, middleware firms and other service providers. The organisation brings together industry professionals through a programme of events, showcasing activities and international trade delegations.

Nina says: "I was absolutely thrilled to find out that I've been recognised by the Courvoisier Future 500. It's a great honour to be named alongside such talented people.

"The listing also recognises the impact that GameHorizon has made in a short space of time. Since launching in 2004, we've been able to help North East England's games sector grow substantially, with a 44% increase in workforce and a 20% increase in turnover. Every games company in North East England is now a member, and we're looking at extending that reach over the coming year.

"The games industry is itself undoubtedly one of the rising stars of the business world. Already worth many millions, this comparatively young industry contributes more to the UK's economy than either film or music. At GameHorizon, it's our job to ensure that companies in the UK are in a position to build upon that success."

The judge of the media category, IGA Worldwide's Ed Bartlett, adds: "The quality of entrants to the media category has been astonishing, which bodes extremely well for the future media landscape in the UK.

"The media category is by nature extremely London-centric, however it's important in this technology-enabled age to look both nationally and internationally at how people are driving success in their field. Nina has shown boundless energy and a keen business sense in her role helping innovative games businesses in the North East to continue to punch above their weight through events, collaboration and outreach."

Herb Kim, CEO of Codeworks, adds: "At Codeworks, we pride ourselves on finding and developing the best talent. It's excellent that Courvoisier and the Observer have gone to such lengths to recognise such promising individuals. We're really pleased and proud for Nina and for GameHorizon."

Everybody listed in the 500 the will now be entered into a special Future 500 Network, in which they'll have exclusive access to an online networking facility that enables them to search for and get in touch with 499 other successful and up-and-coming individuals and judges.

Codeworks GameHorizon is part of Codeworks, a centre for digital innovation based in North East England.

ENDS

Notes for editors

About Codeworks GameHorizon

Codeworks GameHorizon is the leading business network for UK-based games companies - developers, publishers, middleware firms and other service providers. Our goal is to facilitate more collaboration, improve knowledge and increase local and international trade for UK-based games companies - with the ultimate aim of strengthening the position of the UK's games industry on the global stage. www.gamehorizon.net

Additional notes about the Courvouiser Future 500

In each category of the Future 500, a 'One to Watch' was singled out by the judges. In Nina's category the accolade went to Rupert Loman, the managing director of videogame website group Euro Gamer.

The One to Watch winners in full:

Fashion and Retail - Anna Scaife (Anna Lou of London)

Travel and Leisure - Stephen Chapman (Make Travel Fair)

Art and design - Benjamin Shine (Artist)

Business - Ryan Notz (Buildersite.co.uk)

Food - Vincent McKevitt (Tosseduk.co.uk)

Drink - Will Beckett (Bar Owner)

Media - Rupert Loman (Eurogamer.net)

Science and Innovation - Charlie Paton (Ecological Innovator)

Public Life - Sital Punja (Saricouture.com)

Sports and Entertainment - Paul Hawkins (Inventor of 'Hawk-eye')

All media enquiries: