Game Republic sees 81% of students showcasing at annual event find work with games firms in North of England

Game Republic has tracked 136 winners over the last 10 years of the competition, and found that almost a third are now in senior and top positions within the gaming industry, with 40 per cent working as artists and designers and 37 per cent as developers, programmers and engineers.

Undertaken to mark Game Republic’s 20th anniversary, the research has also found that around 90 per cent of the competition’s winners are working with games companies more widely.

Managing director of Game Republic, Jamie Sefton, said: “After we had done the research, I was just delighted.

“I knew the event had had successes and placements and full time jobs, but I didn't realise how well we had been doing, I was shocked.

“One of the main things we wanted to do with Game Republic was to keep the talent within the region, because there's a huge drain that goes on with graduates leaving.

“And with 81 per cent of graduates who showcase with us staying in the North, that just really excites me, because it means that we are doing something right.”

As part of Game Republic’s 20-year celebration plans, previous winners will join competitors at this year’s Student Showcase, set to take place at the University of Bradford on Tuesday, June 6.

Yorkshire-based company PitStop Productions are sponsoring the showcase, with founder and director John Sanderson joining the line-ups of judges.

Mr Sanderson said: “Every year we see fantastic work from the students in the region.

“We are very fortunate to have such fantastic Universities and Colleges participating as it gives games companies like ours a chance to speak to highly impressive graduates looking to work in our industry”

Game Republic partners with 16 universities and colleges, each of whom are able to put forward five projects or individuals into the competition.

Attendees showcasing games compete in seven different categories to win prizes at Game Republic’s event, with new categories added this year including for narrative design, with Revolution Software, and an award for level design, which will be judged by Sheffield-based Distinctive Games.

Mr Sefton noted how he hopes that through the work done by Game Republic, parents across Yorkshire will gain a better understanding of the gaming industry, and support young people who hope to eventually work in the field.

He said: “It's so important that parents know, because when their kids are at school and theyre playing games and they're making games, they might be thinking ‘well they're just wasting their time playing games and mucking about ‘

I always used to think when I was a kid growing up: ‘how on earth am I going to get a job in games or in film or tv or newspapers?’

“I just thought it seemed so far away from my little village in East Yorkshire.

“But there are some really good opportunities, and I just want kids especially to know that there is an opportunity to have a great career in games, and it can be done here in Yorkshire.”