Each month we share news from our members here. If you are a Ukie member and would like to share some news then please complete this form
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Unity in Industry Professional Academy
Unity in Industry is a part-time, flexible 13-week Skills Bootcamp focused on boosting Unity development skills in your studio and progressing your project. It is ideal for building proof of concept games to help to get your project off the ground.
With access to Skills City expertise, Unity’s own expert trainers and multi-disciplined project collaborators this is a first of its kind opportunity.
Learners attain the internationally recognised Unity Certified Professional Programmer certification and gain experience in leading and delivering a multi-disciplined project, staffed by Unity Certified Artists and supported by Skills City experts.
Businesses in the North benefit from majority funding by the Department for Education, resulting in a per learner fee of just £800.
Places are limited and applications close on 27th August, so apply now to avoid disappointment.
For more information on Unity in Industry visit: https://www.skills-city.com/immersive-technologies-in-industry
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Ukie member Menzies launches webinar series to educate and support studios
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Menzies LLP have partnered with UKIE to bring you a technology focused webinar series. This free series comprised of 4 webinars will cover some key areas of finance from understanding your accounts to making the most of your tax position.
Each session will include a concise 15-20 presentation with time for Q&A afterwards.
Understanding your accounts - 16:00 on 23 September 2021
A look at the structure of the accounts, what the elements mean and making the right choices for accounting policy. . Click to book your place
Managing your cash flow - 16:00 on 21 October 2021
A look at cash flow planning, planning for future developments and beyond. Click to book your place
Managing growth -16:00 on 18 November 2021
Gearing up for and trading through periods of fast growth – from a financial point of view. Click to book your place
Tax - 16:00 on 16 December 2021
A look at the impact of UK taxes on technology businesses, how to make use of allowances and how to avoid pitfalls. Click to book your place
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DEV:PUB Virtual Expo - Meet the studios from UK Game of the Show and EuroPlay
Come along on Wednesday
next week to meet the studios taking part in the UK Game of the Show and
EuroPlay Video Games Contest, in partnership with Kwalee. This is ideal
for publishers, investors and press looking to meet the studios or media.
The studios taking part are: Nosebleed Interactive, innoloop, UnifiQ,
Outlier, Robot Turtle Limited, Arrogant Pixel LTD, Yaldi Games, EfrenStudios,
Coatsink / Bunnyhug, Bossa Studios, Blazing Griffin, Stadust Collective,
Wabisabi Play, PixelManta and Wordplay Games.
Find out more.
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Business | Ting's Blog: What are the driving forces behind the business service revolution?
Like video communication, the digital services platform economy didn’t start with the pandemic. But in the post Covid landscape, digital technologies have changed how we do business. So, what forces are driving the shift in how companies buy business services online? And what does this change look like? Ting Zhang, founder and CEO of Crayfish.io, writes:
Post Covid-19, western businesses need to kick-start through recovery and reach a state of growth. One of the best ways of doing this is by expanding into overseas and a high-growth markets such as China and India. Huge opportunities are available, which explains why Britain has applied to join the 11 nation. Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Such endeavours aren't without their challenges, however.
Consequently, up to now, they have only usually been possible for large international players. Only such organisations have had the upfront levels of investment, contacts, and resources needed. But evidence suggests dynamics are changing to be more favourable towards SMEs. And digital platform economies are becoming central to that shift.
Find out more.
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ESI Digital Summer is back!
ESI Digital Summer is the 5th edition of ESI’s successful Digital Events programme, allowing attendees from around the globe to network, explore, educate and be educated in the esports space regardless of travel restrictions.
It’ll be a 5-month gap from Digital Spring, but that just means we’ll be even more eager to provide you with more top-notch networking and content.
There’ll be over 60 speakers across the two days, and the themes focused on will be commercialisation, investment, community, education and more, including the return of the pitch investment competition The Clutch for its fifth edition!
Use ESIUKIE for 10% discount
Find out more.
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The Esports Entrepreneur Who Wants The Sector To Be A Force For Good
Ukie member LDN UTD was recently interviewed by Forbes.
Esports has been transformed from a thriving niche to mainstream entertainment in the space of just a few years. Around 474 million people around the world will be watching esports events this year, while global revenues are expected to reach $1.1 billion by the end of 2021.
However, one esports organization is looking to do more than just cash in on this global phenomenon by positioning esports as a force for good, and running campaigns around issues such as racism, knife crime, diversity, nutrition, loneliness and education.
Founded in 2018 by Oliver Weingarten, LDN UTD unites professional esports and grassroots gaming with healthy lifestyle and social issues. “Esports can be much more than just entertainment,” he says. “We have young people’s attention, and we need to use esports as a platform to help change the world.”
Find out more on Forbes.
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ESPORTS BAR Announces highlights of packed 2021 programme
Esports BAR, the world’s esports business arena, today announces highlights of its 2021 programme, the return of the physical event to its home in Cannes, 13-15 October 2021
The 9th edition of the Esports BAR series, which gathers the whole esports community in one place to discuss the future of the industry, will take place this October in Cannes, eponymous with events bringing the entertainment business together. After a challenging and unforeseen period of adaptation for the industry, the event comes at a time of hope and a moment of continuing growth for the sector.
Find out more.
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Brighton companies feature heavily in new tech report on south east
A new report reveals that the top tech companies in the SouthEast region include Brighton-based companies Brandwatch, Unity Technologies and Horsham-based Creative Assembly.. The report, produced by UK Tech Cluster Group, features 18 innovative startups, fast growing businesses and established companies across the South East.
In Brighton, the city’s pulsing creativity, and disruptive, community-led spirit has powered the city’s start-up culture and growth in gaming, e-learning and emerging technologies. With Warner, Epic, Cision and more all acquiring local start-ups and scale-ups, it has become recognised as a place where tomorrow’s groundbreaking creative technology ideas are being nurtured today.
In the report, Brighton companies talk about the importance of the city to their success. Scale-up Totara highlights Brighton as an online learning technology centre with global impact. Other local companies featured include GPS technology start-up Naurt; TV disruptors Studio BE; augmented reality platform Percept Imagery; immersive tech specialists Make Real and innovative search engine Mojeek. Established players include Brandwatch, the social listening platform that recently sold for $450m and leading games development platform Unity Technologies.
Find out and download the report here.
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