Guy Bramwell-Smith
Chief Executive Officer, SlingShot Studios, and Head of Games, Access Creative College
Unlock your potential in the dynamic world of games and esports through college education with expert-led courses, industry partnerships and diversity initiatives.
Launched in 1992, Access Creative College’s (ACC) sole focus was music; that was what we were known for. More recently, we have expanded into games and esports. The UK games industry was worth £7.82 billion in 2023 (UKIE), but it’s not just about economic value.
Expansive games industry education
Games and esports have a vast fanbase and press following, groundbreaking experiences across multiple platforms including PC, mobile and console that make them more accessible than ever.
ACC recognises how strong these sectors are. We’re rising to meet growing demand by offering courses that are engaging and interesting for students — and relevant and professionally robust for employers, providing a constant pipeline of fresh talent.
The UK games industry was worth £7.82 billion in 2023, but it’s not just about economic value.
Diversity and collaboration in games careers
Diversity has long been an issue in the sector, so we’ve launched initiatives like our ‘Change the Game’ campaign, aimed at getting more women into games careers. We also offer industry professionals a chance to engage with students by bringing them in as tutors or for masterclasses as part of our bespoke ‘GoLive’ careers service.
We’ve also partnered with Manchester games development studio SlingShot Studio, to offer work experience exclusively for ACC students and alumni. SlingShot primarily develops mobile games and has released its student-led pilot app project ‘GO!Samurai!’. They are currently working on a major update, as well as two new IPs, a mobile top-down zombie shooter and their first PC game, all due to be released in September.
Our sister higher education provider, dBs Institute, has also recognised the growing importance of games within the creative industries with their industry-focused, highly specialised BA (Hons) Game Art, BA (Hons) Game Development: Programming and MA Game Sound courses.
Taught by industry experts in facilities that reflect real-world games industry environments, their courses help our students take the next step in their educational journey and prepare them for successful games industry careers.
For more on Access Creative College, dBs Institute and Slingshot, visit the following:
