Amiqus and Ukie Launch Empower Up Platform for Games Companies
Award-winning games recruitment agency, Amiqus, and Ukie’s #RaiseTheGame initiative have joined forces to introduce Empower Up, an all-encompassing platform that provides games companies with the necessary knowledge, frameworks, guidance, and resources to establish, improve, or expand their Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) policies, practices, and processes.
Empower Up: Supporting EDI in Games Companies
Empower Up is designed for all games companies, regardless of where they are in their EDI journey. For those seeking a better understanding of the importance of EDI, the Intro to EDI section offers a comprehensive overview. It also includes a summary of different Diversity Characteristics and Under-Represented Groups, along with specific advice and guidance for each.
At the core of Empower Up is a practical Health Check tool that enables games companies to assess their progress in terms of EDI. Based on the results, the platform directs companies and individuals to specific sections where they can find relevant advice and actionable steps to move forward.
The Journey to EDI Excellence
The EDI Journey section provides valuable information and guidance on various aspects, including:
– Getting Started
– Workplace Culture
– Recruitment & Hiring
– Staff Development & Retention
– Marketing & Communications
– Accessibility & Representation
– Activities & Outreach
– Legal Requirements
Additionally, the Resources section offers inspirational Case Studies from studios already excelling in EDI, a Directory of EDI organizations and initiatives, as well as a Glossary of Terms. Regular updates on News and Events are also provided.
Become an Empower Up Member
Studios and individuals are encouraged to sign up as Empower Up Members, which offers additional benefits such as:
– Saving Health Check results to track progress
– Access to informative Case Studies from other games businesses and organizations
– Bookmarking articles for personal Reading Lists
– Downloadable resources, including document and policy templates
– Monthly newsletter
– VIP invitations to Empower Up events
Empower Up is a not-for-profit, industry-led platform from Amiqus and #RaiseTheGame, dedicated to furthering EDI efforts in the games industry.
Driving EDI Forward
Amiqus is led by Business Manager Liz Prince, who brings 20 years of industry experience as a woman in games. She is the driving force behind the G Into Gaming campaign, which aims to promote gender balance and diversity in the games industry. Liz Prince is also a Women in Games Ambassador and a regular speaker on EDI topics at industry events. She expressed her excitement for Empower Up, stating:
“There are many studios and employees who know that making their organizations a more inclusive, equal and welcoming place is the right thing to do – but often they just don’t know where to start, or how to progress. That is where the idea for Empower Up was created. There are some brilliant organizations and initiatives out there, but nothing that pulls everything together in one place to help studios to take actionable steps in this area. Empower Up has been a real labor of love, and we’re really proud and happy that it’s now ready to help games companies in the UK push forward with their EDI efforts.”
Ukie’s #RaiseTheGame initiative aims to improve EDI in games businesses of all sizes through diverse recruiting practices, inclusive working environments, and representing voices in their games. Dom Shaw, the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator for Ukie and manager of #RaiseTheGame, expressed excitement for Empower Up and its mission to elevate EDI practices in the UK games industry. He said:
“It’s really exciting to see Empower Up come to life, and we thank both Amiqus and our leading #RaiseTheGame partners for supporting this important project. We want the games industry to be a more diverse and inclusive community, in which people from all backgrounds are welcome, valued and can flourish in their careers. Empower Up exists to empower organizations and individuals in the UK games industry to take their EDI knowledge and practices to the next level, through measurable and actionable steps. We look forward to seeing it in action in studios around the UK.”
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