GAMES GRADS CAREERS FAIRS RETURN FOR BIGGER, BETTER SECOND YEAR

After proving a clear hit with the industry following last year's launch, the Games Grads career fairs return in 2008 on April 24 in London and April 29 in Manchester. Organiser Tandem Events is promising even more features to tempt students along.

In addition to providing computer and video games graduates, developers and publishers with an incomparable opportunity to meet face to face, both Games Grads North and South will host a brand new comprehensive seminar programme, offering students practical, real life advice on both breaking into the games industry and what to expect when they finally get there.

At Games Grads in Manchester, Tandem Events together with Pixel Labs is also running GAMES:EDU North to complement the highly successful GAMES:EDU, which takes place at the Develop Conference and Expo in Brighton in July and is now in its third year.

"We created Games Grads specifically for under- and post-graduates who have a keen interest in this industry or who are already on computer and video games courses but need additional help and guidance to get their foot in the door of one of the most creative and economically successful industries in the UK," said Andy Lane, managing director of Tandem Events.

"In our very first year, more than 500 students visited the fairs from 52 universities and colleges across the UK. Games Grads obviously filled a very real need among both students and the industry, and we're delighted to be bringing them back for a second time."

Commenting on the 2007 event, Lynne Jackson from Microsoft Game Studios said: "Games Grads is an excellent opportunity to meet soon to be graduates and possibly future employees. It gave us an opportunity to advise others and explain more about our company and what we look for in employees. We'll definitely be there this year."

John Sear, programme leader BSc Computer Games Programming, added: "We knew how beneficial the conference would be so we took a mini-bus of 15 students to visit from Derby. It was an excellent opportunity for them to meet developers from all over the country who were explicitly interested in our growing pool of talent. Our students are under no delusion just how difficult it can be to get into the industry but the Games Grads conference allowed them to find the games company that best matches them."

Notes to editors

Computer and video games students can register to attend the fairs for free by visiting www.gamesgrads.com .

Companies interested in exhibiting at Games Grads should contact Craig Mundle at Tandem Events on 020 7405 4500.

Tandem Events has over 20 years of experience in organising market-leading exhibitions, conferences and events across a number of industry sectors. Forthcoming events include the Develop Conference & Expo, Develop Mobile Conference and GAMES:EDU. www.tandemevents.co.uk