EPIC.LAN organisers raise awareness of UK esports opportunities at Labour Party Conference

Kieran Lynch, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 29/09/2025

EPIC.LAN organisers brought esports to the Labour Party Conference 2025.

Managing director and founder Jon Winkle shared photos on social media, as they represented the UK esports industry at the Labour conference.

The annual conference started in Liverpool on Sunday and runs until Wednesday, October 1st.

EPIC.LAN organisers raise awareness of esports opportunities at Labour Conference

Winkle said in a post on social media website X: “Something unusual for us as we bring a flavour of esports to the Labour Party Conference 2025.

“We were given a chance to raise awareness of esports opportunities in the UK. We’ll be talking about major events, economic value, jobs and more to represent the UK esports industry!”

His post received a positive reaction, with one follower writing: “This is incredible to see. We definitely need to bring more political awareness to the esports scene to help it grow in the UK, especially.”

A gaming set-up was put up at the Labour Party Conference. Pictures showed a gamer on a racing rig, while others were behind the computer screen playing another game.

In June, it was revealed that the UK Government would fund £30 million to help grow the UK’s gaming industry.

However, there were seemingly no concrete plans to boost the UK’s esports scene.

The government did advertise a role in May for a ‘Head of Video Games and Esports’ under the Department for Media, Culture and Sport.

This followed calls from British games body Ukie for the government to offer stronger backing for the UK’s games industry..

It claimed that without government investment, the UK games industry could miss out on £500m.

Why is it important that EPIC.LAN has a presence in advocating for UK esports?

Esports events company EPIC.LAN is a pillar of the UK grassroots community and has played a huge role in raising awareness of esports opportunities.

EPIC.LAN staged the Epic45 event which was held at the Kettering Conference Centre in July. It proved to be massively popular and was filled with international players.

It was described as a historic LAN which could be the beginning of a new era and a taster for what can be expected of future LAN events.

Congleton-based EPIC.LAN has worked with providing industry experience, training and work experience to university students. One such university where this is available is the University of Staffordshire, who EPIC.LAN extended their partnership with earlier this year.

EPIC.LAN has had a big part in the legacy of BYOC (Bring your own computer) LANS for many years. Their events feature a mixture of casual gaming and esports tournaments.

It has provided the start of many careers in esports for players and backstage staff.

Their experience means it is important that they have a presence in advocating for UK esports at events such as the Labour Party Conference, as the UK esports scene continues to grow in popularity.

Kieran Lynch, Senior Editor

Kieran Lynch is an esports journalist who writes about several games including EA Sports FC 25, Call of Duty, Rainbox Six Siege, and more. He previously worked as a sports journalist for MailOnline.

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