Ukie and Barclays have just announced the Mobile Games Growth Programme, a collaborative venture designed to support mobile game developers in the UK.
The programme will give an initial group of 10-15 developers the opportunity to network with, and receive mentoring from, proven leaders in the mobile games industry, while also receiving 40 hours of expert advice on how to master the business side of development.
A Helping Hand
Applications for the Mobile Games Growth Programme are open now, and the successful applicants will begin their journey this November. Over 6 months, they will attend workshops, talks and masterclasses, as well as receiving one-to-one support from industry mentors.
One of these mentors is Nick Button-Brown, founder of The Games Angels, an investment company focused on game developers. Discussing the programme, he said:
“I’ve worked with mobile businesses of all sizes and know how hard it is for companies to build and scale. I’ve got many things right and just as many things wrong and being the permanent coach on Ukie’s new Mobile Games Growth Programme will give me a chance to help the next generation of companies. Working alongside the brilliant industry experts, I’m really looking forward to giving great opportunities to the mobile studios that we’ll have as our first cohort.”
The programme is free to apply for and, for the successful applicants, free to partake in as well. This widens the scope of this programme considerably beyond that of similar offerings, providing an opportunity for promising developers with less resources to achieve their full potential.
A Twist in the Tale
This programme isn’t the first time that Ukie, the trade body for the Uk’s games and interactive media industry, and Barclays have collaborated. The two worked together on the Ukie Games Demo Day back in 2021, and the Mobile Games Growth Programme is the next step in that relationship. Ukie CEO Dr Jo Twist, OBE, had this to say about the new programme:
“The UK has a large and growing mobile games sector and we’re delighted to be continuing our work with Barclays to support it through the new Mobile Games Growth Programme. We want our first cohort to build their business skills, think about their strategy and get the latest advice about UA, in-game economies and business models directly from industry experts so they can confidently take the next steps to seek investment and grow successful, creative and sustainable mobile companies.”
Barclays have a keen interest in games also, seen as far back as their 2020 Games Frenzy event. David Gowans, their Head of Creative Industries, Games and Esports, expressed their excitement at being able to advance those interests further with this programme:
“We are delighted to build on our relationship with Ukie and increase our ongoing support of the UK games sector with a programme designed specifically for exciting and innovative mobile games businesses. This is a brilliant opportunity for founders, CEOs and leaders of UK mobile studios who have the ambition and potential to scale their businesses and I’d encourage anyone interested to apply today.”
You can find more information on the Mobile Games Growth Programme, and apply for it yourself, here. Applications are open from now until the 28th of October.