Train2Game Incubator programme

Blended learning provider Train2Game today announces its Incubator programme, designed to provide its most talented graduates with a defined route into the game development industry. The scheme will see Train2Game offer significant financial, logistical, business, and mentoring support to help successful candidates establish their own entrepreneurial ‘micro-businesses’, focused on developing industry-standard commercial gaming content. The Incubator programme will be complemented by a series of games industry placements allowing additional Train2Game graduates to gain invaluable experience by spending time in-house at studios across the UK.

Train2Game’s Incubator programme is being spearheaded by UK games industry veteran Dave Sharp, who, with over 60 published titles to his name together with Future game in Sweden and Digital City in Teeside, is well-placed to manage the implementation of the ground breaking project. Each Incubator company will receive up to £96,000 worth of support from Train2Game over the course of a year, incorporating office space and equipment, hardware and software, business mentoring and IT and administrative support, in addition to a monthly cash investment into the company to aid cash flow.

Candidates for the Incubator scheme will need to have successfully completed their Train2Game course and will be required to present a complete business plan cash flow forecast and creative proposition to the Train2Game panel, outlining the commercial opportunity. Train2Game expects to create four Incubator companies each year as a result of the programme, with the first graduate incubator scheduled to be up and running in early December.

In addition to the Incubator scheme, Train2Game will offer its graduates the chance to gain invaluable industry experience via its industry placement programme. Candidates who meet the required academic criteria will be matched to an appropriate development studio where they will undertake a placement of up to three months, gaining hands-on experience of the industry at work. The first placements will begin in late October.

Train2Game Director Clive Robert commented: "Train2Game’s Incubator programme will act as a conduit for its most capable graduates to exercise their skills and creativity in a business environment which if successful will help springboard them into the UK games sector as business owners. We’re really looking forward to working with these new companies, helping them bring some fresh new gaming content to market and setting them on track to becoming part of the games industry innovators of tomorrow."

Dave Sharp added "The Incubator Scheme will be a great opportunity for graduates to put their skills to the test and for potential employers to recognise the creativity and passion Train2Game students have for the industry."

Train2Game offers blended learning courses for people who would like a career in the video games industry. Its Games Design, Games Developer and Games Artist & Animator courses include input and involvement from experienced industry professionals, and are supported by the UK video games trade association, TIGA, who act as the independent awarding and examination body for Train2Game. More details can be found at http://www.train2game.com

For further information about Train2Game please contact Kayleigh Watson or Ricky Davison on 020 7479 4310 or email kayleigh@kazoo.co.uk / ricky@kazoo.co.uk

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