Gametech365 Launches in Greater Manchester

Gametech365 @ HOST, an always-on community that offers expert support, events and masterclasses, has been officially launched.

20:28 06 April 2024

A pioneering tech community has been unveiled at Media City's innovation hub, HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology, with the backing of Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett.

Gametech365 @ HOST, managed by IN4 Group, emerges as a distinctive ecosystem poised to propel growth, foster collaboration, and ensure sustainability across Greater Manchester's vibrant technology landscape.

Gametech represents a thriving multi-billion dollar industry, leveraging tools and technology originating from the video games sector for gaming and broader applications.

Companies within Greater Manchester's gametech sphere are invited to join this supportive community, facilitating growth, forging partnerships, and unlocking opportunities.

Gametech365 @ HOST operates as an ever-active community, offering expert guidance, curated events, and enriching masterclasses to nurture the sector's advancement.

Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford, expressed enthusiasm, stating, "Our Council's substantial investment in establishing MediaCity as a premier digital, tech, and media hub outside London makes it the perfect home for the Gametech365 community. This initiative holds immense potential to cultivate high-quality jobs, businesses, training, and opportunities for local residents, while also attracting investment and fostering skills development within the city. The transformative impact of harnessing the Gametech sector to drive global economic growth and create employment opportunities is significant, and we are committed to seizing this opportunity in Salford, across Greater Manchester, and beyond."

Roxana Lawton, Director of Innovation Programmes at HOST, hailed this initiative as a game-changer for Greater Manchester, underscoring the commitment to empower tech talent and foster innovation and scalability through the Gametech365 community at HOST in Salford.

Lawton added, "Our ambitious targets aim to generate employment opportunities in the region and promote inclusivity, ensuring that anyone in Greater Manchester aspiring to work in the tech sector has the chance to do so. These efforts align with Salford City Council's broader objectives of ensuring sustainable prosperity for all Salford residents."

Gametech365 @ HOST forms part of the broader Innovate to Scale series of programmes, which includes the acclaimed FreelanceHER and The Modern Workplace initiatives.

Supported by Salford City Council, Innovate to Scale programmes receive £1.4 million in funding, further augmented by £1 million from the private sector.

The overarching goal of Innovate to Scale is to provide training, employment, and business support, aiming to drive prosperity through technology and skills development while dismantling barriers to diversity and inclusivity within the sector.

The target is to generate over 100 new tech jobs in the region by March 2025, with funding sourced from the £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund, underlining the UK government's commitment to promoting equity and opportunity across the nation.

HOST, formerly known as The Landing, was established by Salford City Council a decade ago during the inception of MediaCity. Under the stewardship of IN4 Group, HOST has evolved to signify a new era, focusing on providing innovation support to individuals and businesses, spanning startups, SMEs, and established enterprises.