Author: Cliodhna

The Ukie Hub Crawl is back! Join fellow games developers and publishers and identify new opportunities and strategies to support the growth of your business. The 12-date series will commence from Tuesday 18^th January with 8 virtual events taking place. With one event a week and with fresh speakers every time, this should become a key part of your weekly schedule.

Hub Crawl 22 will feature an array of expert speakers sharing their insight around key issues including the latest technology, staff recruitment and retention, access to finance and reaching your all-important consumers.

All events within Hub Crawl 22 are free to attend thanks to its amazing partners Barclays Bank (lead partner) and Amazon (event partner).

Virtual events dates and themes:

1. Tuesday 18^th January – Games staff of the future; how and where to recruit the best talent for your games company.
2. Tuesday 25^th January – Retaining your team for the long term; how to develop and support your employees.
3. Tuesday 1^st February – New technology for games; what technology is helping to shape the future of the games industry, and how.
4. Tuesday 8^th February – Finance for growth; how games companies can access external finance for business expansion.
5. Tuesday 15^th February – The what and how for Blockchain and NFT for the games industry.
6. Tuesday 22^nd February – Reaching and building a relationship with consumers.
7. Tuesday 1^st March – The latest trends in data analytics in games.
8. Tuesday 8^th March – The future of esports; how and why will esports shape the games industry.

In April Hub Crawl 22 goes on the road with visits planned to key games hubs around the UK.

Physical events dates (Themes TBC):

1. Tuesday 5^th April
2. Tuesday 12^th April
3. Tuesday 19^th April
4. Tuesday 26^th April

For more information, please click here.

The Pixel Mill will be hosting an online talk with Graeme Weir from the Federation of Small Businesses on Thursday 20th January at 2pm. The talk will cover the Federation of Small Business (FSB) and how it supports small companies and sole traders/self-employed.   

FSB is a member-led, not-for-profit, organisation which represents small firms and the self-employed to UK, national and local government. FSB offers its members a range of benefits, such as a 24-hour legal advice line and free business banking.  

The talk will be held online. If you would like to attend, email rory@northernirelandscreen.co.uk to sign-up.

Are you a passionate graduate game dev? Are you interested in taking part in Tranzfuser 2022? There will be a single Enterprise Pathway with a focus on helping teams get pitch-ready for applying to the UK Games Fund for grant support of up to £20,000.

Next year sees the competition focus on the art of transforming entrepreneurial passion into a sustainable and commercial creative studio.

If you’re interested in taking part in Tranzfuser 2022, register your details now to be kept up to date with the latest news.

Click here to find out more and to register your details.

The Pixel Mill is hosting a Q&A with a Publisher workshop with Sega Content and Partnerships Manager Julia Kenny on Tuesday 30^th November at 9:30am – 11am.

The workshop will be an opportunity for developers, new and experienced, to ask questions about video games publishing. Julia will cover topics ranging from how to pitch games, what working with a publisher entails and what to expect from a publishing partner.

Julia’s background is in video game publishing and business development. She has worked both on the publishing and developer side of investment and publishing discussions, with a particular focus on content acquisition. What drives her is her passion for bringing great games to the consumer and forming meaningful relationships. She is currently working in the SEGA Searchlight team, SEGA’s publishing and incubation arm for original IP.

The workshop will be held in-person at the Ormeau Baths (with a limited number of people and social distancing measures in place), however there will also be an option to join remotely. If you would like to attend the workshop please email Rory Clifford, Interactive Manager, rory@northernirelandscreen.co.uk. Please include whether you would like to attend in person. Numbers will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

The Pixel Mill will be hosting an online workshop for interactive companies with the Labour Relations Agency on the Essentials of Employment Law & the role of the Labour Relations Agency. The workshop will take place online on Thursday 28th October from 10.30am – 12.00pm.

The workshop will cover subjects such as the sources of employment law, the employment contract and main terms & conditions, pay, working time, notice & dismissal, discipline & grievance, family-friendly employment rights, equality legislation and redundancy. The workshop is appropriate for employers and employees.

The Labour Relations Agency provides a free, impartial and confidential employment relations service to those engaged in industry, commerce and the public services. It provides advice on good employment practices and assistance with the development and implementation of employment policies and procedures. It is also active in resolving disputes through our conciliation, mediation and arbitration services.

Spaces are limited and will be assigned on a first come first serve basis. If you would like to attend, please email kerry@northernirelandscreen.co.uk.