New scheme to improve games skills

Working in partnership with organisations such as industry body Tiga and Crossover Innovation Labs, the Raise the Games initiative aims to increase the performance of the sector and expand on the skills base already present in the country.

The programme will have four elements, including a mentoring scheme for owners of small firms to benefit from the advice of experienced business people and 'innovation labs' to encourage commission from outside the traditional computer games market.

A major part of Raise the Game is improving skills, with a proposal to offer intern placements in smaller firms and resources to help companies recruit talented graduates, with cross industry jobs swaps intended to create more rounded and experienced workers.

Jonathan Kestenbaum, chief executive officer of Nesta, said: "This new programme will be instrumental in fostering creativity and building relationships throughout the games industry and beyond to ensure the innovation and growth capacities of UK companies are harnessed.

In related news, Nesta has also formed a partnership with the Web Science Research Initiative to ensure the internet remains a platform for information exchange and collaboration, to further UK's progress as a knowledge-based economy.