For transparency: Esports News UK editor Dom Sacco used to work full-time for British Esports between September 2016 and February 2021, and currently does some freelance work for them, producing their weekly email newsletter.
The first cohort of students have today completed the BTEC Esports extended diploma which launched in the UK two years ago.
Alex Reece is one of the first cohort to complete the diploma, pictured above in the East London Institute of Technology’s esports arena.
The 18-year-old from Dagenham has secured an apprenticeship in the esports department of the East London Institute of Technology, which will involve him helping with setting up equipment in the college’s esports arena. Once he has completed that, he is aiming to get a job in the esports industry.
“I play games for up to 10 hours a day”, said Alex, “A few years ago I started watching esports. It’s just like how people are with football, they watch matches, follow players and support teams. The team I most enjoy watching is called Cloud9.”
Pearson and British Esports, who launched the qualification, are billing esports as ‘more than gaming’ and talk about transferable skills it offers.
“It’s for coders, You Tubers and animators, who not only game, but who want to develop the knowledge and skills needed for esports careers,” reads a press release. “The jobs available include event planning, sports journalism, coaching, sponsorship sales, branding and design, PR/marketing roles and technical roles like the apprenticeship Alex has secured for himself.”
“We are proud and excited to provide a pathway that allows students to follow their passion, and to see these students demonstrate their talent as they journey through their education.”
Elliot Bond, British Esports
Another East London Institute of Technology student won the British Esports Student FIFA Championships in July. David Croxford, from Lewisham, studies esports at the college. Gaming has been a passion of David’s for years, and he started entering esports competitions from the age of 12. He’s since gone on to compete at national esports championships.
Overall, some 200,000 students have received their Level 3 BTEC results today.
Elliot Bond, head of community development at the British Esports Federation, said: “We are proud and excited to provide a pathway that allows students to follow their passion, and to see these students demonstrate their talent as they journey through their education.”
Almost 70% of UK parents believe esports can play a positive role in school, but only 32% are happy for their child to have a career in it, finds education survey by Dell and Intel
Kalam Neale, who recently joined British Esports as its new head of education, added: “I’d like to say a huge congratulations to all certificating students who have received their results for the 2021-2022 academic year. The last few years have been difficult, especially in education.
“Your perseverance, resilience and dedication to your academic studies and personal development should not be underestimated. You should be extremely proud of the knowledge, skills, behaviours and experiences that you have developed through your esports studies.
“Wishing you the best of luck as you take your next steps into the variety of emerging careers within esports and the associated industries. I look forward to seeing your success stories as you pave the way for future generations.”
The news comes after British Esports worked with the Global Esports Federation and the Commonwealth Games Federation on the inaugural Commonwealth Esports Championships in Birmingham, which saw the UK Home Nations win 11 medals.
Further reading: What worked – and what didn’t – at the Commonwealth Esports Championships? (opinion piece)
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
