On Saturday 9th October at the ESI Oxford St pop up event, new esports and gaming venture EQ will unveil its vision to create opportunities for young people to develop their skills, employment opportunities and social mobility through esports and gaming.
EQ will deliver events and strategic collaborations such as retail partnerships, pop ups, events and online tournaments that will benefit brands, teams, players, and fans in the competitive gaming community.
EQ will encourage young people to explore the world of esports and gaming beyond the screen. Gaming has the power to stimulate learning and cognition and EQ wants to improve employability and help develop vital life skills needed through gaming education.
‘‘Where emotional intelligence plays… is our ethos and we want to use gaming, competitive gaming and esports as a gateway to accelerating youth engagement, education, creativity and enterprise. ‘’Says Founder Chris Bird.
‘’The UK games software market was worth £3.77bn in 2019 and accounts for 48% of the UK’s £7.8bn entertainment media* meaning opportunities within the industry are huge and we aim to create a pathway for young people to access them.’’
The gaming ecosystem is an access point for young people to unleash their creativity, and with support and guidance, we aim to open up career paths into the industry. We’re looking to encourage and motivate gamers to engage with higher education, vocational courses, and apprenticeships to enhance their personal and career development.
Sam Cooke, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Esports Insider commented, ‘’we continue to be excited to learn more about EQ and its vision. It’s great to see someone like Chris Bird who has been at the heart of JD Sports entry into esports and gaming creating a commercial business with a clear vision of social mobility through education and employment. EQ entering the market now is great timing.’’
Through innovative collaborations and initiatives, EQ will make gaming accessible to all young people and engage with teams, brands and young gamers in the UK and beyond.
Chris bird adds; “EQ is not just another business to me, it is an extension of me. I wasn’t blessed with a high IQ but I make things happen because I believe emotional intelligence mobilises ideas and inspires people. This is a long term project for me, there is no quick fix as I am determined to bridge the gap between the commercial focus and the social opportunities and needs and this will take time, investment and determination”
To learn more about EQ, head down to 58 Oxford ST, London on Saturday 9th October, 10.00am, and speak to the team. There’ll be activations from Veloce, 3D Aim Trainer, Wanyoo and We Are Nations too. You can register for a free pass to the talks, which include Chris and EQ, that are taking place throughout the day here, exact information and timings will be updated on the main event site.
Find us: Eqesportsandgaming.gg | @EQesports_gg | @EQEsportsandgaming
