British Esports has signed a two-year collaboration with Dell Technologies and Intel ©British Esports

British Esports, the national body established to support grassroots esports in the United Kingdom, has signed a two-year collaboration with Dell Technologies and Intel.

The partnership focuses on promoting esports as an accessible, inclusive and forward-thinking industry.

It will highlight how esports fosters the development of 21st-century skills, innovative education and career pathways that drive economic growth across a wide range of related sectors, from science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to creative and digital industries to sports and beyond, it is claimed.

British Esports is targeting a collection of five official partners and five official suppliers who will play a role in shaping and supporting the future of esports and education in the UK.

To help launch this new deal, British Esports joined forces with Dell and Intel to ask students aged between the ages of 11 and 17 about their technology learning experiences and the need for 21st-century skills for future education and career pathways.

Of the 700 students surveyed, 56 per cent strongly or somewhat agreed that combining an esports qualification with other subjects would enhance their chances of securing a place at university.

A total of 59 per cent respondents believed that such a qualification would provide them with practical, hands-on experience in a specific industry.

British Esports and new partners Dell Technologies and Intel have surveyed youngsters in the UK about their technology learning experiences and the need for 21st-century skills ©British Esports
British Esports and new partners Dell Technologies and Intel have surveyed youngsters in the UK about their technology learning experiences and the need for 21st-century skills ©British Esports

Additionally, 52 per cent recognised that an esports qualification would equip them with the essential skills needed for subjects in STEM.

As part of the new deal, Dell Technologies and Intel will provide equipment for the National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland.

"Collaborating with such industry-leading organisations who share our vision and values is a significant milestone and we are grateful for their commitment," Chester King, the chief executive of British Esports, said. 

"This partnership will ensure that the national esports performance campus will be equipped with state-of-the-art computing technology, delivering on its promise as the UK’s most advanced esports and education performance and training centre."

Steve Young, senior vice-president and general manager for Dell Technologies in the UK, has high hopes for the new partnership.

"Working with organisations like the British Esports Federation and Intel we hope to raise awareness of how tapping into passions like esports could be the key to fostering the development of 21st-century digital skills," he said.

"Watch a young person engage in esports and you’ll see them test hypotheses, think systematically, analyse data, and employ evidence-based strategies, as well as the technical proficiency necessary to play, film, edit, publish and connect."