In a collaborative effort, Access Creative College, Condense and LocalGlobe have announced a second cohort for their innovative Bristol tech scholarship. After having such a positive experience with the previous cohort, the organisations are keen to give more people this outstanding opportunity. Applications have now been extended until 30 September – so don’t waste any time!
Starting in October, eight talented young creatives will begin their scholarships, learning to live stream events in virtual spaces with Condense’s novel technology. Whilst a primary focus of the 12 week programme is building virtual venues in game engine Unity and Condense’ own, bespoke product Studio 5, scholars will also get to experience the company’s one of a kind live events rig, used to capture performances to use in virtual events.
“Participating in the Condense Scholarship allowed me to broaden my horizons, learn some incredible new skills, and contributed to shaping my future. It has opened doors to endless possibilities for my career.”
The combination of these two unique, exciting technologies, developed by Condense, allows creators to stream real-world performances live, across the world in real time, into 3D games and applications. The innovation secured Condense $4.5M in funding last year, and the company wants to dedicate its efforts to training the next generation who will go on to shape the tech sector.
Giving young people the right tools
Whilst the tech industry continues to grow exponentially in terms of technological development, we have faced a persistent skills gap to account for the potential. On top of this, the sector has struggled to ensure diversity and inclusion is at the forefront of bringing in new talent. In recognition of this problem, Condense says this scholarship was created to provide a tangible solution by providing a hands on role for young people who are interested.
It’s been reported that less than a tenth (8.5%) of senior leaders in UK tech are from ethnic minority groups, a sixth (16%) of IT professionals are female and a tenth (9%) of all IT specialists have a disability (Prospects, 2022).
Applications for the Condense scholarship are particularly encouraged from women and people from minority backgrounds, with successful scholars receiving an £1800 bursary to help cover costs while studying, college accreditation and a certificate, exposure to local employers and even a potential job at Condense at the end of the 12 weeks.
With the virtual live events industry expected to grow to a value of $1.02 trillion by 2031 (Allied Market Research, 2022), the skills that scholars will learn including Digital Graphics, 3D Modelling, Realtime VFX and more are a great foundation for future career success. Olivia from the first Condense scholarship cohort accepted an Account Manager position at Condense at the end of the course.
“Participating in the Condense Scholarship allowed me to broaden my horizons, learn some incredible new skills, and contributed to shaping my future. It has opened doors to endless possibilities for my career. The knowledge, practical experience, and networking opportunities gained through the program have significantly enhanced my opportunities in the tech industry.” – Olivia, Condense Scholar, 2023.
Applications close on Friday 30 September for this year’s Condense scholarship. To apply, please visit the website here or search Condense Scholarship.
