Sumo Group has confirmed its games industry partners for 2022 as it continues its journey towards a more inclusive and diverse industry for all.
Earlier this year the Group announced it was partnering with Into Games, a non-profit that supports people on their journey in developing skills and confidence to thrive in games and immersive technologies. Its involvement as a partner will see champions of diversity and inclusion within the group given the opportunity to grow as educators and mentors through public speaking training, presentation skills and more.
Sumo Group is one of three premium sponsors of Limit Break – a mentorship programme aimed at underrepresented people working in the UK games industry. The Group will be supporting by offering workshops to participants, encouraging sign-ups from its people to become mentors across a range of disciplines and offering studio space for networking, social and learning events.
Code Coven provides marginalised developers with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the games industry. This includes opening safe educational spaces for trans/cis women, trans men, non-binary and gender-nonconforming people. The partnership will see Sumo Group contributing to workshops, events, Q&As and helping to raise awareness of Code Coven’s initiatives and projects. The Group will also subsidise a Sparks Masterclass enabling participants to learn at no financial cost to themselves.
“I’m so proud of Sumo Group’s partners for 2022 – all three organisations are doing fantastic work on shaping the future of the games industry. Since the inception of our EDI strategy, Sumo Group has continued to push forwards its goals of creating meaningful and enduring diversity and inclusivity partnerships. Many of our people have already volunteered and contributed to these initiatives and their enthusiasm for change and creating an industry which is safer for all is amazing to see,” said Sumo Group equity diversity and inclusion manager Leon Killin.
Into Games, Limit Break and Code Coven join Sumo Group’s existing EDI partners, which include a multi-studio connection with the Ahead Partnership – an initiative which sees young people connect with employers for practical, hands-on work experience, Mission Gender Equity, a women’s mentorship programme aimed at assisting women aiming for leadership in their professional future and Women in Games which provides support and advocacy for women and girls in the games industry and educational pipelines.