Hull College is thrilled to announce the appointment of 17-year-old Jake Smith as captain of one of the four Esports teams the college is fielding in the British Esports Student Championships this academic year.

The Level 3 Esports student will be at the helm of the Hullraisers’ Overwatch 2 team as they gear up for their debut appearance in the highly anticipated British Esports Student Championships, which start this week on Wednesday. This event is not just a competition; it's an opportunity to inspire and motivate students, fostering their passion for gaming alongside their qualification.

Reflecting on his appointment, Jake said: “I am extremely proud to have been chosen as one of the Hullraisers’ captains and excited to see how everything goes with the championships starting this week. It's a dream come true for me, and I can't wait to lead my team into the British Esports Championships and represent Hull College with the passion I have for Overwatch 2.

“I wanted to be a captain because I feel as though I’m a good communicator, which is a key skill for anyone wanting a job in any industry these days. I’ll be there to offer support to my team-mates whenever they need it. Taking part is these championships is an opportunity for everyone involved to test ourselves against players from other colleges up and down the country. It’s going to be a big challenge but one that I’m very much looking forward too!

“Being given the job of captaining the Overwatch 2 team has topped off what has been a fantastic start to my course - I’ve loved my experience to-date. Although there is an emphasis on gaming, having the opportunity to learn and discover more about the marketing side of things in the Esports industry has been very interesting and eye-opening. It’s been nice to combine the passion and enjoyment I have for gaming with something that can set me up for my future career.”

Featuring some of the biggest and most popular esports games available today, including; League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Rocket League and Valorant, the British Esports Student Championships is the UK’s largest amateur grassroots esports tournament for students aged 12 + at secondary schools, further education (FE) colleges and alternative provision (AP) schools.

Identifying the next generation of amateur esports talent, the Student Champs featured over 200 individual schools and colleges in 2022/23 alone, including 500 teams and in excess of 5,000 students, culminating in a grand final witnessed by a live audience and over ¼ million live views on Twitch.

Brand new for the 2023/24 season is the introduction of the Open and Nationals, designed to showcase the very best teams and talent on a national level, alongside the addition of wider cup competitions featuring StreetFighter 6 and Apex Legends, as well as the return of the Women in Esports Cup and the Williams Racing League, in partnership with Williams Esports.

The 2023/24 Student Championships will culminate in a LIVE LAN final at The Arena, the brand new, multifunctional esports and creative complex, part of British Esports’ National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland.

Richard Holmes, who was appointed as programme lead for Hull College’s Esports courses ahead of the current academic year, is relishing the prospect of seeing the Hullraisers compete in the championships for the first time on Wednesday (11th October) afternoon.

He said: “We had an overwhelmingly positive response from our Esports students wanting to be involved, along with students from other courses wanting to participate as well. It’s an exciting time and obviously everyone involved is looking forward to the Esports Championships getting underway this week.

“The enthusiasm levels are high and we want to be as competitive as possible, but with the right attitude and frame of mind. From my perspective, there’s a lot of importance of the mental health and well-being of our team members and striking the right balance between team work and respect. It’s all about working together to achieve the best result we possibly can, and looking after each other whilst we’re doing that.”

In today’s digital world, Esports has quickly become a mainstream phenomenon. There are professional leagues, dedicated stadiums and events, millions of pounds in prize money, and hundreds of millions of fans all across the globe. Here in the UK, it’s the 2nd fastest growing entertainment and media sector, and the industry is set to continue its rapid growth in the coming years as viewers worldwide is expected to break the 640 million barrier in 2025!

Our innovative Level 2 and Level 3 Esports qualifications - fully endorsed by the British Esports Association - will afford students with real career prospects in the burgeoning UK market. Potential careers - aside from being a professional player - include roles in marketing, business, social media, content creation, UI/UX design, event management, data and analytics, and video production to name just a few. The possibilities really are endless!

For more information on our Esports courses, or Digital courses in general, please call 01482 329943 or email info@hull-college.ac.uk. Alternatively, if you’re interested in join us as a student, you can attend one of Discover Hull College Open Events to find out more.

Our first event of the academic year is being held on Thursday 12th October (5:30pm - 7:30pm) – and there’s still time to secure your place!

‍Click here for further details and information on how to pre-register to attend.

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