A PARTNERSHIP between Priestley College and one of the world’s leading video game manufacturers is helping young designers to crack the multi-billion-pound industry.

In the only programme of its kind in the country, the Loushers Lane college teamed up with TT Games – creators of the Lego Star Wars games – more than a year ago to provide three internships for its students.

Since then, two of those interns have secured jobs at the company, which is owned by Warner Brothers, and the other is studying game art at university.

Another two students started their internships in August after the company agreed the programme was worth continuing, despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Priestley tutor Matt Wilson was key to forging the partnership with TT Games after inviting its head of design, Arthur Parsons, into his classroom, and he says that the results have been incredible.

“I always had confidence that we were attracting some seriously talented young people and we were equipping them with the knowledge and experience to succeed,” he said.

“However, the way our interns have settled into their roles and the approach taken by TT Games is beyond anything I could have hoped for.”

To apply for an internship, students put together a portfolio during their Level 3 Computer Game Development course before attending an interview with the company.

Successful candidates continued on the art foundation course at Priestley while being paid to work at the company four days a week.

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This year’s successful candidates, Ethan Steele and Rhys Nadin, are both working on a high-profile game, but they are sworn to secrecy about its name and features.

Both have been given the responsibility of placing assets in the game and take part in daily zoom meetings with TT Games’ design team.

“We are having to work from home at present, so we do not have someone sitting next to us to ask for help if we need it,” said Rhys, a former pupil at King's Leadership Academy.

“We do have mentors though and everyone is really supportive – they even supplied us with PCs at home so that we can get the work done.”

Priestley was one of the first colleges to introduce a computer game design course, and since then several students have been nominated for BAFTA awards and most have gone on to university courses or jobs linked to the industry.

Ethan and Rhys’ passion for computer games was ignited by their dads playing at home, and they were thrilled to spotted an opportunity to turn this into a career when they discovered the course at Priestley College.

Ethan, who previously studied at Birchwood High, said he believes video games are the next great art form, and that after going to university he wants to forge a career in the industry.

He added: “You have movies like The Godfather that are considered great art, and I really believe computer games have the capacity as an artistic medium to match that.”