Esports students in Shipley are getting a taste of the action thanks to an industry partnership.

Kingdom Wrestling, a local organisation bringing live events, creative production, and community spirit to West Yorkshire, has teamed up with Shipley College to offer students real-world experience in live event production.

Students will gain hands-on experience in areas such as venue preparation, risk assessments, marketing, hospitality, and audience engagement.

Kingdom Wrestling founder and CEO Gareth Thompson said: “We have a fantastic, existing relationship with Shipley College and the Esports provision.

“Students regularly complete work placements with us and, this year, we want to build on this by showing the new intake the opportunities in real-world production and promotion.

“Esports is far more than just playing games; it’s about building communities, promoting events, creating brands, and managing live experiences.”

Callum Sheriff, Esports tutor at Shipley College, added: “We teach event management on our courses, but it can be difficult to find placements at actual events.

“Working with Kingdom Wrestling gives Shipley College students hands-on experience of planning, promoting, and delivering live events.

“The whole collaboration provides a fun, out-of-the-box environment, providing transferable skills that look great on CVs when students are applying for jobs or further study.”