Based in Sweden, PlaygroundSquad is a successful training company in the gaming industry, recognised by leading games companies such as Sony PlayStation and Electronic Arts (EA) as a training ground for their employees. The new Manchester school, which will be based at The Sharp Project, Manchester’s digital production complex in Newton Heath, will be the first of its kind in the UK and only the second in the world to publish games for PlayStation.
PlaygroundSquad, who have 14 years’ experience of delivering training in gaming and work with some of the industry’s biggest names, has partnered with The Manchester College, Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and The Sharp Project to offer up to 60 paid apprenticeships each year in Game Design, Game Programming and Game Art.
The apprenticeships will give young people aged 16 years and above hands-on, industry-relevant training in the digital gaming industry. In Sweden, over 80 per cent of those completing the two year course find employment post training.
Speaking about the company’s arrival in Manchester, Magnus Bjorkman, Chief Executive of PlaygroundSquad, said: “The UK is the centre of game development in Europe so moving our model over here is a natural step for us. Manchester is a fast-growing, forward-looking city that has invested in developing its reputation as a global digital and creative hub.
“It is an exciting place to be and we are delighted to bring our specialist training to the city and reach out to the talented young people who live here. We want to mirror our success in Sweden and create jobs and employment in this growth sector here in the UK.”
Carol Bartram, Employment & Skills Manager at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted that PlaygroundSquad has now moved into the Sharp Project. This is the result of almost 12 months of planning with Magnus at Playground Squad, Manchester City Council and The Manchester College. PlaygroundSquad is offering 60 new games Apprenticeship positions between now and June 2014. The Chamber will be funding the apprentice training through the Employer Ownership of Skills programme.”
The Manchester College is working closely with PlaygroundSquad on the three types of Apprenticeships and the college’s Apprenticeship team will be assessing and providing accreditation for the courses.
Trudy Burrows is Director of Apprenticeship Development at The Manchester College. “This is a unique opportunity to bring new skills to Manchester that will provide the growing digital sector with a key advantage. We are focused on redirecting the college’s Apprenticeship provision in line with the skills requirements of Greater Manchester, giving young people the opportunity to learn the right skills to fill the jobs that are available right here in the region.”
Councillor Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council said: “As the digital sector in Manchester continues to grow and create new employment opportunities for local people, it is vital that we help to equip residents with skills they need to take up these roles. This new annual cohort of digital apprentices will become a key part of the talent pool we need to develop. Manchester PlaygroundSquad will broaden the increasing range of digital apprenticeships and development opportunities now available in Manchester. Their arrival marks another step forwards as we aim to fulfil our ambition to become one of the world’s foremost digital cities.”
PlaygroundSquad will employ the apprentices directly in order to establish the project and training offering in Manchester. The long term plan is to work with local and national employers on the programmes. North West gaming companies have already expressed a strong desire to use the training expertise of PlaygroundSquad for their own employees. The three types of jobs (programmers, artists and designers) are currently available to apply for on the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) websitewww.apprenticeships.org.uk . The first course starts mid-February and a second cohort will be recruited to join the school in May this year.
For more information on PlaygroundSquad go to www.uk.playgroundsquad.com
