NextGen Futures is inviting applications from aspiring games-tech developers in the West of England for a new rapidly delivered training course in games programming, including Unity and Unreal Engine. These skills are highly in-demand across games, VR, AR, animation, VFX, manufacturing, and automation companies, with current local skills shortages in these growing industries.
The NextGen Futures Bootcamp is free to all trainees, and includes:
• 160 hours of remote learning (10 hours a week with 3 hours of tutor-led lessons and 7 hours studying in your own time)
• 16 weeks of teaching from September 2021 to January 2022
• Online learning with experienced tutors, plus face-to-face networking and events
• A guaranteed interview with a local employer on successful completion of the course
The bootcamp has been developed by NextGen Skills Academy, Opposable Games and TechSpark, and is funded by the West of England Combined Authority's Digital Skills Investment Programme. The bootcamp is part of a £2m investment by the West of England Combined Authority, announced by the Mayor during the region’s first Jobs and Skills Summit.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who has pledged to secure good jobs and training for the region, said:
“There is increasing demand for skilled workers in our digital businesses that are struggling to find the talent they need. These courses delivered in the region will help to train more people for our growing businesses and have been designed to attract people that perhaps haven’t previously thought about a career in this area.”
Ben Trewhella is managing director of Bristol-based Opposable Games. He said:
“The games industry is already the largest entertainment industry in the world by revenue and employment and is booming. However, there is a dire skills shortage with local companies now employing international staff.
“Learning to program games technology is engaging and incremental, with immediate feedback, and unlocks high paying careers in the progressive and exciting games industry and wider engineering and technology fields. We are very proud to be working with an ambitious group of employers and look forward to helping a new generation of tech workers find careers they can be passionate about.”
*NextGen Futures will be reviewing applications and offering placements to suitable candidates throughout August, we reserve the right to close applications early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. All candidates must be aged 19 or over and be a resident in the West of England Combined Authority area; defined as living within the local authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire.