NCsoft launches new apprenticeship scheme

NCsoft has teamed up with City College Brighton, PartnerTrans and Skillset to launch a new apprenticeship in quality assurance and games production.

According to Skillset there is currently a gap in the market for trained games testers, and the new apprenticeship will be a key part of the skills strategy for the games industry.

The apprenticeship "offers a structured entry point outside of the games industryâs traditional academic routes", said Chris Chilton, computer games and animation manager at Skillset.

"The apprenticeship is led and delivered by the games industry, with the trainee spending the majority of the time with a company being mentored by an experienced practitioner."

Of the four trainees who enrolled in the scheme, three have signed up for a year-long work placement with NCsoft's Brighton-based QA team. They will also receive regular training at City College, where they will gain theoretical knowledge to go alongside their practical experience, and will eventually earn a level 2 qualification.

"NCsoft support has been vital in Skillsetâs development and piloting of the scheme and in offering trainees the opportunity to work in this exciting sector whilst earning a recognised qualification," said Chilton.

Skillset hopes that other companies will set up similar schemes in the future to establish "a more systematic entry route into the games industry".