Introducing Empower-Up, the programme that’ll help studios stick to their diversity pledges
Putting the G into Gaming, an initiative that focuses on getting women into games, and then supporting them, has today announced the Empower-Up programme. A guided journey that is designed to help studios and their leadership teams to make changes for the better.
The Empower-Up programme has been launched in support of the UKIE #RaiseTheGame initiative and is aimed at helping those companies who have made the pledge to improve diversity and inclusion within their organisations by providing resources and framework to achieve those goals.
With many games companies already committing to the #RaiseTheGame pledge, the Empower-Up programme will offer guided support through the process. They’ll do so by giving the best practical advice on steps to ensure their companies are not only attractive, but are welcoming and inclusive to people from all backgrounds, including underrepresented groups.
The programme will provide tools to help all studios assess their current practices across their businesses, making it easy to identify their areas for improvement. They’ll receive high-level guidance to support them in identifying these areas that they would like to focus on.
More importantly, the studios wishing to take part in the programme will become a part of something very important: a community. There they’ll receive on-going advice from the Empower-Up team through regular updates and content, such as webinars and invitations to events to help achieve their aims.
Liz Prince, Founder of Putting The G Into Gaming and the Empower-Up Programme had this to say about the programme:
“The launch of Ukie’s #RaiseTheGame Pledge, plus the findings of its research into the current state of play within the UK games industry, should be welcomed by all. The arrival of the most up-to-date data on diversity and inclusion is hugely important and, although it shows there is still much work to be done, the introduction of the Pledge is a strong signal that the UK games industry is fully committed to supporting enhanced representation at all levels.”
Prince continued, “for an industry looking inwards, that is hugely important; we need to ensure that everyone feels included, respected and valued. For those looking into the industry from outside, it’s equally vital; we have skills shortages and we want to attract the very best talent to this exciting industry. We must ensure that it is seen as culturally mature and inclusive – and as forward-thinking about diversity as it is about technology and creativity.”
If you’re worried about what it will cost to be a part of Empower-Up, then fret not, there is no financial commitment needed for the programme at an entry-level. There will be a chance to ‘level up’, but that is dependent on certain requirements. Taking part, however, is completely free of charge.
The Empower-Up Programme is currently in Early Access with a number of studios piloting the scheme. We’re curious on how much the programme will achieve and wish it the best of luck because diversity and inclusion within the game industry is paramount.
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