Skillset appoints new computer games manager

Skillset, the UK’s Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media Industries, has today appointed Saint John Walker as their new Computer Games and Animation Skills Manager.

He joins Skillset from the Film and Digital Media Exchange (FDMX), where he was a founding member of ‘Games Eden’ – the East of England’s games business networking organisation.

“We are very pleased to welcome Saint to the Skillset team,” commented executive director Kate O’Connor.

“As Computer Games and Animation Skills Manager he will play a crucial role in driving forward Skillset’s work programme of boosting the skills and talent pool for the UK’s gaming and animation industries. This includes supporting our work around convergence and exploiting the skills opportunities for these crucial sectors presented by Digital Britain. ” she said.

“My work in education has always been about trying to increase the quality and relevance of skills in the computer games and animation sectors,” Walker added.

“To me, the current economic climate means not only preserving and consolidating what we’ve got, but also being ambitious and forward thinking about future possibilities and business opportunities.”

“Skillset’s research tells us what skills we’re missing and what needs to be done, and I hope to apply imagination and hard graft to ensuring that skills gaps are lessened, if not eradicated.”

Ian Livingstone, creative director at Eidos and Chair of Skillset’s Computer Games Skills Council, welcomed the appointment saying: “Gaming is one of the jewels in Britain’s global business crown and UK games studios are major contributors to the UK economy. But the industry must be able to tap into the right skills and talent to maintain its position as one of the world leaders.

“There is no quick fix to the skills challenge. But the work of Skillset and the Computer Games Skills Council is helping the industry move in the right direction.”