British mobile network operator EE has today launched its Power Up Programme with Excel Esports, a four-month women’s esports talent development programme.
It’s designed for six aspiring women looking to break into the video gaming and esports industry. The programme will train them in Valorant and will aim to give them an insight into what it takes to become a professional esports player.
The women will go through various training modules (listed further into this article), as well as receive advice and guidance from Team Excel’s expert coaches and players. From nutrition and wellbeing sessions to skills workshops and financial guidance courses, the programme will educate and inspire the six selected women to discover opportunities in gaming and esports.
The the chosen players will also have the chance to try out for Excel’s Valorant women’s team.
The Excel Valorant mentors will also take players through their top gaming gear recommendations at retailers, including the new EE Game Store, to ensure they are equipped with the best technology needed to compete.
Christian Thrane, MD for Marketing at EE, commented: “The launch of our Power Up Programme is the latest step in EE and Excel’s shared commitment to make gaming as inclusive as possible. We know that many women often don’t feel that there are opportunities for them in the gaming and esports industry.
“To help drive awareness of the opportunities there are and level the playing field for women in gaming, we have created our Power Up Programme, enabling six aspiring women to deepen their understanding of the video gaming landscape and expand their industry insights. We are looking forward to following the players on their journey.”
Christian Thrane, EE
Mark Carter, Commercial Director at Excel Esports, added: “We are delighted to join forces with EE to launch the Power Up Programme, the first-ever Valorant development programme for women in the UK. Our mission is to create a safer and more inclusive gaming community and so the launch of this programme is another step closer to achieving this.
“Our expert coaches and players are looking forward to sharing their knowledge and guidance, and helping the players to develop their skills in gaming and esports.”
Survey reveals views on men and women in esports
The Power Up Programme comes as new research by EE reveals half (47%) of gamers in the UK think women aren’t taken as seriously as men in the gaming and esports industry, with 8 in 10 (85%) suggesting men are generally perceived as being better gamers and esports professionals.
And while four fifths (83%) think women gamers and esports players are just as skilled as their male counterparts, nearly half (48%) admit that there is still a long way to go with the industry being viewed as male-dominated.
The research surveyed 1,025 people aged 18 and over who play video games in the UK.
When asked about the challenges women face in the video gaming and esports industry, the research revealed that women cite harassment and verbal abuse (45%), a lack of opportunities (33%) and a lack of role models (33%) as some of those that most inhibit their development.
Of the gamers surveyed, four fifths (79%) admit that they see no reason women shouldn’t play competitively against men in gaming and esports, with a third (36%) saying they are just as likely to take tips from women who game as men.
However, women admit that they are less likely to see a career for themselves in gaming and esports than men (18% vs. 32%), with three fifths (58%) suggesting this is because they don’t believe they have the skills required. A further fifth either don’t know how to get into the industry (21%) or didn’t realise there were opportunities to make it their job (20%).
The top five challenges women face in gaming and esports are:
- Harassment and verbal abuse
- The culture within gaming and esports diminishes and undermines the skills and achievements of women
- There is a lack of opportunities for women
- There is a lack of role models for women
- The culture within gaming and esports discourages women from taking part
Power Up Programme esports training modules
· Nutrition: Recognising the key role of nutrition in maintaining peak gaming performance, players will be educated by a renowned chef. Hosted in Excel headquarters’ smart kitchen, the session will teach participants about the best performance foods, with a food psychology expert working with them to create their very own nutrition plan
· Career Opportunities: To gain further insights into the esports industry, players will visit the birthplace of Valorant at the Riot Games Studios in Berlin, before having a masterclass in coding, character design and game development at EXCEL’s Berlin headquarters
· Mental Wellbeing: A leading sports psychologist will be on hand to provide advice and guidance on stress management for the participants
· Skill Enhancement Clinics: Players will attend workshops with Team Excel’s head coaches, providing the best advice for developing their Valorant gameplay skills
· Personal Growth: To assist players in growing their online presence and personal branding, inspiration sessions will be hosted by renowned streamers who will share insights on how to grow a Twitch fanbase and navigate online interactions Additionally, players will have access to bespoke financial guidance from HSBC (which partnered with Excel Esports earlier this year)
· Enriching Experiences: Players will have the opportunity to attend gaming tournaments, offering firsthand exposure to the competitive atmosphere and power moves from the best in the field
· All underpinned by guided mentorship: Each player will be paired with a dedicated mentor from Excel’s professional Valorant team, who will be on hand to support throughout the programme and offer invaluable advice
How to apply for Excel and EE’s Power Up Programme
To kickstart the programme, EE and Excel Esports will launch the application process with the £10,000 Valorant Women’s Cup at Insomnia 71, on Thursday September 7th in Birmingham.
Players who can’t make it to Insomnia 71 can also apply online from today at ee.co.uk/power-up, with the programme closing for applications on Sunday September 24th at 6pm.
Applications are only open to UK residents and only persons that identify as women and are aged 18 or over will be considered.
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.
