British Esports and Sunderland College power up partnership

British Esports and Sunderland College have announced an extension of their partnership, aimed at developing esports talent and establishing Sunderland as a key player in the global esports industry. 

The collaboration, which started in 2022, focuses on providing students with the skills and knowledge needed for careers in the growing esports sector.

Toni Rhodes, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Education Partnership North East, emphasised the importance of this partnership:

“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 conducted at 'The Place' in Sunderland, part of the National Esports Performance Campus (NEPC). This facility offers state-of-the-art resources, supporting Sunderland, the North East, and the UK in becoming recognised for attracting and developing top esports talent. 

Students will have access to dedicated esports classrooms, performance rooms, and streaming booths. The campus also hosts regular esports events, community tournaments, and the Young Learners - Esports Career Skills Programme summer camp. It serves as a bootcamp space for Team Great Britain Esports.

Sunderland College offers a range of esports courses, including a one-year Level 2 Esports Diploma and a two-year Level 3 Esports Extended Diploma. Starting in September 2024, the college will also offer a Level 4 Higher Nationals in Esports, delivered at the NEPC.

Students at Sunderland College can join the Sunderland Seers esports team, which includes participants from the college’s NextGen and esports programmes. The Seers compete nationally in the British Esports Student Champs, the largest grassroots esports competition in the UK, with over 500 schools and colleges participating. The team has previously won championships in games like League of Legends, Rocket League, and Overwatch.

The Sunderland Seers, founded in 2018, focus on grassroots esports and aim for development and excellence. With access to NEPC’s advanced facilities, students are well-prepared for the competitive esports environment.

Chester King, President of British Esports, highlighted the benefits of the partnership:

“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.”