SAE Institute offers different pathway into the Games sector
“Schools and colleges in Leamington, Warwick and Coventry have been really receptive and local businesses have been very good."
A new pathway into careers in the Games industry is now offered in Warwickshire by a global education-provider attracted by the region’s reputation in the sector.
The SAE Institute has opened in Leamington Spa in a brand new, purpose-built base at Spencer Yard. Next to The Fold, home of design consultancy Cogent with whom the Institute works extensively in partnership, the Institute is in the heart of ‘Silicon Spa,’ the UK’s biggest games cluster outside London.
It offers students a different option to those delivered by traditional universities and will have a maximum expected capacity of around 250 around two intakes and six programmes.
The SAE is an international enterprise, originally launched in Australia, and that it identified Leamington as a preferred location is a significant tribute to the district’s appeal.
“We are delighted to have opened in Leamington,” said Richard Peirson, regional operations manager at SAE Institute. “We were introduced to the area by contacts at The Fold and, as soon as we saw it, thought this was the place for us. Everything that has happened in the year since we moved in has confirmed that view.
“Schools and colleges in Leamington, Warwick and Coventry have been really receptive and local businesses have been very good. We are working with seven games companies and have already done lots of work with Motionhouse and Heartbreak Productions. We’re working with the Loft Theatre and Royal Spa Centre and are building more bridges all the time.
“Warwickshire Skills Hub has been really helpful, as has Coventry Careers Hub. Our first intake of students is just coming to the end of their first year and our first full intake will be next year.
“We work very closely with The Fold and that enables us to give students a different version of industry engagement. Games companies come in and will speak around how to get into their industry, but they will also spend time in the PC labs and talk about individual students’ work. Our social media students take on real clients as partners with The Fold. Our whole building was designed to resemble a design agency, not a campus or education provider.”
The SAE Institute also offers a more intimate learning environment for students who would not enjoy the broader campus life.
“If you want the typical university life, then don’t come here - that’s not what we do,” said Richard. “Many of our students have different barriers to learning so our maximum group size is small. Our PC lab only seats 18 so we are never going to be bigger than 18 in a single cohort, but we love smaller groups anyway because they are the best environment for teaching and learning.
“It is a warm environment which will never overwhelm anybody. They are never going to walk into a big site with hundreds of other students. There’s always a bit of background noise whether it’s music or radio to keep it nice and informal, but it’s not a noisy, intimidating place.
“Being at the heart of such a strong Games Hub, and with Cogent next door, we focus heavily on Games and Content Creation but the skillset that involves is absolutely transferable. Part of our job is to equip students for the games sector and their dream of what they want to do, but they will be ready for employment in other areas too. We try to expose them to different routes where they can find employment.”
Louise Stolz, Future Skills Business Support Advisor at Warwickshire Skills Hub said: "The arrival of the SAE Institute in Leamington Spa expands the training provision options available in Warwickshire for people who are looking to get into careers in the Digital Creative sector and really supports the work Warwickshire Skills Hub are doing around the future skills agenda.
"Part of Warwickshire Skills Hub is the Warwickshire Supported Employment Service, which supports Warwickshire young people and adults with autism and learning disabilities with an aspiration to work. I spoke to the SAE Institute about the work that WSES do and they welcomed a visit from Charlotte and Michelle from the team to discuss how they could get involved in their community outreach sessions."