Barclays Games & Creative

Mentorship in the games' industry is evolving—and it’s redefining what great leadership looks like. We spoke to Melissa Phillips from the Games Leadership Network, who shared why mentorship is no longer just about passing down knowledge from the top. Instead, it’s about creating a collaborative relationship where both mentor and mentee grow together. Find out more about how mentorship is changing and why it matters in our full article: https://barc.ly/40476aU

After a period of reduced spending signs of recovery in UK games investment are starting to emerge. While funding remains a challenge there's hope on the horizon. We spoke to industry experts including Nick Button-Brown of The Games Angels and Sam Collins of Ukie who both believe the tide is turning. It's not without challenges, but optimism is building. Read the full article here: https://barc.ly/421vUCS

Thank you Gina Jackson OBE for speaking to us about how the games industry can find and support the talent it needs, whilst addressing challenges. Worth a read 💕

As we step into 2025, leaving behind the challenges of 2024, we’re looking ahead to what elements will shape the future of the games' industry. We spoke to Gina Jackson OBE about what skills will be essential in 2025 and beyond. Read the full interview here: https://barc.ly/3W4Ao7T

📢Save the Date: Games Frenzy 2025 is Coming! We’re excited to announce that Games Frenzy will be back on 15 May 2025, and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever! 🗓 Mark your calendars Want to exhibit your game the event? Applications are now open! Just, fill out the form here: https://barc.ly/4j1gYKX Looking forward to seeing you there. #FRENZY2025

Just over a month ago, we brought the Scottish games community together at our Glasgow campus for the Scottish Games Frenzy and what an event it was! - 52 studios exhibited their incredible games. - Over 250 attendees. - 5 engaging round tables explored key industry topics. This event was a true showcase of the talent and creativity thriving in the Scottish games industry. A huge thank you to everyone who exhibited, participated, and made this event such a success. Check out the highlights in the video below!

Often, the positive impact of games is overlooked, but events like last week’s GamesAid Gala serves as a powerful reminder of the industry’s ability to make a difference. Last week, several members of our team had the privilege of attending the Games Aid Gala, an event that showcases the generosity and community spirit within the game's industry. Games Aid is a fantastic charity that supports smaller UK-based charities focused on children and young people, raising funds through the incredible efforts of the gaming community. This year, the charities supported by Games Aid’s fundraising efforts include Game Therapy UK, Autistica, Gamers Beat Cancer, Safe In Our World, Solving Kids' Cancer UK, and many more—each doing life-changing work for those in need. We’re delighted to continue our support of this amazing charity and look forward to seeing the gaming industry’s impact grow even further https://barc.ly/3Brek0d

We had a brilliant night at the Barclays Entrepreneur awards last week. It was an honour to celebrate the fantastic finalists in the Games category. Congratulations to Alyx Jones and Kevin Davey who won our Games Award for Silver Script Games. Also, congratulations to Disobey for being highly commended in the Games category. A big well done to all our incredible finalists: HaZimation Intorqa Code Wizards Meaning Machine Fateless Games Bonsai Collective Limited A big thank you to our judges Tara M., Quang Nguyen and Nick Button-Brown, as you did not have an easy job.

We’ve come a long way in improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the games industry – but there’s a gap that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: socioeconomic diversity. Right now, only 13% of UK games industry professionals come from working-class backgrounds, compared to 37% of the UK population. Why does this matter? Because when the industry is dominated by those from more privileged backgrounds, we lose out on fresh perspectives and creative talent from underrepresented communities. From barriers like expensive education and training to the geographical clustering of studios, it’s clear there’s work to be done. We spoke to Declan Cassidy (Into Games), Shahneila Saeed, FRSA (Ukie’s Digital Schoolhouse), and Liz Prince (Amiqus - Games Recruitment Specialists) about this often ignored disparity. Read more here: https://barc.ly/4i8MqXc

What should a game pitch deck include to catch the eye of publishers or investors? We regularly get asked by new game studios about the key elements that should go into a pitch deck to attract investment. It's just as important to know what to include as it is to understand what to avoid! We recently spoke with Tim Garris, Callum Godfrey, and Joshua Garrity to get their insights on what they look for in a pitch deck and the common mistakes they advise avoiding. If you're working on a pitch, this is your chance to learn from industry experts! Find out more here: https://barc.ly/4g0WVtZ