In July we attended Develop:Brighton, a conference and expo held in you guessed it - Brighton! It was a great chance to not only catch up as a team, but also see so many members of our community face to face.
We held a meet up right by the beach, and despite the slightly gloomy weather, there was a fantastic turnout alongside some delicious ice cream!
“It sometimes takes some time for me to build up courage to approach people at networking events, which is why the [Into Games] social event helped immensely to warm up my social skills by speaking to people who are in a similar position to me. It helped make networking in the expo after much easier.” - Patryk, bursary recipient
Although events such as these aren’t compulsory to attend, they do provide valuable opportunities to network, make new friends and familiarise yourself with the games industry. By making it more accessible for people, especially those who might find it difficult to attend, we’re not just opening doors - we’re welcoming fresh perspectives and ideas which in turn help break down barriers to entry in the industry.
A big part of our mission is to make sure anyone has the opportunity to be a part of the gaming community, regardless of their background. So prior to this event, we offered a travel bursary to help those from under-resourced backgrounds. We’re proud to say that we supported 49 amazing individuals with their travel costs, thanks to the kind contributions we received.
In total, we were able to distribute £3,200 to make this happen. A special shoutout goes to our partners at Ustwo Games, who generously contributed £500 to our bursary fund. The rest was raised through our GoFundMe campaign, where the support and kindness of our community truly shone through.
It was great to see such a diverse group of people benefit from this bursary. Most were aged 21 - 25, with 39% identifying as women or non-binary, 61% as male, and 19% as BIPOC. Everyone brought something unique to the event, making it an even more vibrant and enriching experience for all.
- 75% confirmed they would not have attended without the travel bursary.
- 100% agreed that their experience made them more aware of career routes and next steps.
“The most valuable takeaway from attending the event was the opportunity to network and gain a realistic understanding of my current skill level. This experience allowed me to connect with industry professionals and peers, providing insight into where I stand and identifying areas for improvement. ” - Aryaman, bursary recipient
We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help more people experience the excitement of Develop and to meet so many passionate and talented individuals. Thank you to everyone who contributed, attended, and made this event so memorable! Roll on Develop:Brighton 2025!
Stay tuned via our socials and newsletter for more events and initiatives as we continue to support and grow the gaming community together. See you at the next event!