David Beckham’s esports org Guild launches esports college

The UK-based esports organization co-owned by David Beckham Guild Esports has announced the launch of Guild College, the college education program aimed at providing teenagers and young adults with a new career pathway in the esports industry. 

Back in May 2021, the organization also launched an online Guild Academy featuring Fortnite and Rocket League, with Valorant and FIFA added in the following months and with more to come. 

Esports college supported by UK government 

This new project will run in a four-year partnership with SCL Education, a UK-based provider of post-16 education that specializes in sports. Thanks to this partnership, Guild College will be providing BTEC level two and level three diplomas. 

SCL Education has prior experience in providing BTEC qualifications for sports clubs like Leeds United College and the West Ham Foundation. Due to this, SCL Education will manage the program as a representative of Guild Esports.

As a part of the deal, Guild Esports will be receiving a four-figure sum from SCL Education for each student enrolled in the course. This funding will act as support from SCL Education’s direct contract with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), UK Government’s executive agency, sponsored by the Department of Education.

The course starts in September 2023 

Enrollment for the course has started immediately and the program will be welcoming its first students in September 2023. Based on their existing comparable courses, SCL Education has estimated that 125 individuals will be partaking in the course in the first year of the program.

The course consists of 600 guided learning hours per student throughout the academic year. Since it is in line with UK official further education, students can also pursue further education study program requirements if they wish. The qualification is skilled-focused and it will help in the creation of long-term careers in the growing esports industry.

SCL Education will also help with the growth of the Guild Esports by providing elite programs focused on pro-player development and outreach programs aimed to positively impact 1000 children through esports in 2023.

Kal Hourd, Chief Executive at Guild Esports commented in a release: 

“Our pioneering course leverages Guild’s position as one of Europe’s leading team organisations and will furnish learners with the opportunity to obtain a Level Two Diploma to support their career ambitions in a fast-growing industry worth more than £1 billion. By getting involved in grassroots esports development in the UK, Guild will also support a pipeline of talent both in terms of the star players of tomorrow and future esports business leaders.

While the esports further education sector in the UK is fast growing, regular access to the state-of-the-art facilities of a fully-fledged global esports organisation is a first for a post-16 esports course and something no other learners in the country currently have available to them. Guild College is proud to offer this experience to students.”

 

Header: Guild Esports