Game creators make a splash
training as I wouldn’t have been able to tackle the mountain without it.
“I had a microdisectemy in 2017 following slipped discs in my lower back, so I was relieved that my back and the rest of my body held up.
“You assume everyone is there because of an experience with breast cancer but there were those overcoming personal battles with mental health issues, some who’d just had a rubbish few years and wanted to put things behind them, and others who just wanted to step outside of their comfort zones – be it socially, physically or mentally – for the experience of a lifetime.”
CoppaFeel! charity exists to prevent late detection and misdiagnosis of breast cancer by raising awareness of its signs and symptoms and encouraging women to check their breasts regularly throughout their lifetime. A CREATIVE company based in Huddersfield is making a splash.
Game development studio Ocean Spark, which was set up by a group of students during their enterprise year at the town’s university, has been named among Creative England’s Top 50 Companies and Individuals in Film, Game and Tech (CE50).
And the firm has another reason to celebrate – with Zach Cundall winning a grant and a series of mentoring sessions following a pitch made to a panel of judges as part of the Investment Readiness programme delivered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in West Yorkshire and York.
Zach said: “The programme is incredible, it’s great to see so many young people starting their own business and each one being completely unique and different. The opportunity to constantly learn and progress with the feedback from investors and others in a similar position is invaluable.
“We want to use the grant to give our students the opportunity to use some of the newest technology within our workshops and the academy. It is going to help us grow and progress at a much faster rate and we are extremely grateful for winning.”
Ocean Spark, based at the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre in Firth Street, has won acclaim for its leadership and the way it has taken active measures to engage with female developers.
As well as creating fun and memorable games – including the upcoming Tetra: Elemental Awakening – Ocean Spark works with schools and colleges to deliver workshops and seminars aimed at inspiring and nurturing the next generation of games industry students.
The CE50 2018 is the fourth annual list of the 50 best up and coming businesses in England covering the film and TV, gaming and digital media industries.
Previous CE50 businesses have gone on to receive BAFTA nominations, opened international offices, opened up markets in China and won prestigious international awards.
This year’s CE50 includes 10 companies in Yorkshire and the Humber – more than any other region. Along with Ocean Spark, the list - includes games, technology, digital media and film businesses in Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and Pontefract.
Huddersfield has 895 creative business and it is estimated that the creative industries contribute £73.82m to the local economy.
Caroline Norbury, chief executive of Creative England, said: “The people and businesses featured in this year’s CE50 are at the very forefront of creativity.
“Through their work – be it games, film or TV productions, interactive platforms or immersive experiences – they produce the original ideas, the entertaining content and the innovations which make this country truly world-leading in the creative industries.
“According to the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport, the UK creative sector contributes £92bn to the UK economy, yet despite the fact that the creative industries are growing more rapidly than other sectors in nine out of every 10 locations in the UK, they still struggle to get finance.
“Creative England exists to fill the access to finance gap and continues to provide a combination of tailored investment and support to help creative businesses develop new business models, deliver products and services and take risks on innovation.”