Salford Mayor launches Gametech365 community at HOST putting Greater Manchester at the heart of the immersive sector

A groundbreaking tech community has launched at Media City’s innovation hub HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology, with support from Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett.

Gametech365 @ HOST, operated by IN4 Group, is a unique ecosystem that will drive growth, collaboration and sustainability across Greater Manchester’s thriving technology sector. 

Gametech is a multi-billion dollar industry, where businesses use the tools and technology originating in the video games sector for both gaming and the wider industry. 

Businesses from Greater Manchester operating within gametech can join the supportive community to promote growth, partnerships, and opportunities. 

Gametech365 @ HOST is an always-on community with expert support, events and masterclasses that will help the sector thrive.

Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford, said: “Our Council has invested millions in establishing MediaCity as the largest digital, tech and media hub outside of London, so there is nowhere better to launch the Gametech365 community. It has huge potential to create high-quality jobs, enterprises, training and opportunities for local people, whilst also attracting investment and bringing these skills to the city. The potential to harness the Gametech sector in driving the global economy to create employment and opportunity is massive, and we are determined to seize that opportunity here in Salford, across Greater Manchester, and also across the North.”

Roxana Lawton, Director of Innovation Programmes and HOST, said: This is game-changing for Greater Manchester. We will be helping the brightest tech talent to start, innovate and scale through our programmes and the Gametech365 community we’re establishing here at HOST in Salford.

“We have ambitious targets to create jobs in the region and to drive inclusivity to ensure that anyone in Greater Manchester who wants to work in the tech sector has the opportunity to do so. This all fits within the wider aims of Salford City Council to ensure long-term, sustainable prosperity for every single resident of Salford.”

Gametech 365 @ HOST is part of a wider Innovate to Scale series of programmes, including the award-winning FreelanceHER 100 and The Modern Workplace. 

Innovate to Scale is run by IN4 Group, which also operates HOST.

Salford City Council is providing £1.4m in funding for Innovate to Scale programmes, which will be matched with a further £1m from the private sector.

The objective of Innovate to Scale is to provide training, jobs and business support, with the goals of generating prosperity through technology and skills learning and removing the barriers which impact diversity and inclusivity in the sector. 

The target is to create over 100 new tech jobs in the region by March 2025.

The funding is from the £2.6bn UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the UK government’s commitment to level up all parts of the UK. 

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and places, supporting local businesses and providing opportunities to boost people and skills. 

HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology, previously known as The Landing, was originally established by Salford City Council during the creation of MediaCity 10 years ago. It was relaunched as HOST to signify a new chapter in its life as it came under the operation of IN4 Group. The last 3 years have built on the approach of offering innovation support for people and businesses, from start-ups and SMEs through to established businesses.

Find out more about Gametech365 @ HOST here: https://www.hostsalford.com/programmes/gametech365-host/