New Panel Established to Guide UK Government on Esports Development

The UK gaming scene is buzzing with the announcement of the new UK Esports Advisory Panel, aimed at strengthening ties between the esports sector and the government.

This panel features a lineup of industry heavyweights, including Michael ‘ODEE’ O’Dell from Scan Computers, Andy Payne, Chair of the British Esports Federation, and key figures from top teams like Claire Hungate of Team Liquid and Darren Pilkington of Fnatic. The group also includes well-known presenter and content creator Frankie Ward, along with James Dean, a former leader at ESL UK.

Described as a unified voice to guide the government in esports matters, this industry-led forum aims to ensure the UK maintains its status as a global leader in the esports arena. The panel will facilitate structured, evidence-based discussions between government officials and the esports community, uniting insights from publishers, teams, events, grassroots organizations, and educational institutions.

While the identity of the Riot Games representative is still under wraps, it’s expected to be a senior figure with a focus on the EMEA region.

This development follows remarks from Ian Murray, the Minister for Creative Industries, during the recent London Games Festival, where he confirmed the formation of the panel. Additionally, the UK Government unveiled a £30 million Games Growth Package at the event, which includes an expanded UK Games Fund of £28.5 million for developer grants and £1.5 million allocated to the London Games Festival over the next three years.

Nick Poole OBE, Chief Executive of Ukie, expressed enthusiasm for the Government’s Games Growth Package, viewing it as a significant endorsement of the UK gaming industry. He emphasized that targeted support throughout the development pipeline will empower studios to launch, grow, and remain competitive on a global scale. Ukie is committed to collaborating with the government to foster growth, drive innovation, and create high-quality jobs nationwide.

Ukie has previously organized esports panels and released whitepapers on the UK esports landscape, but this latest panel is specifically designed to enhance engagement and education with the government.

Earlier this year, esports-specific UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes were also introduced, aiming to elevate the industry’s recognition at the governmental level. This initiative is expected to improve tracking of the UK esports sector’s size, attract investment, and generate more job opportunities.