In the games industry, talent doesn’t appear overnight. It’s shaped, supported, and inspired over time. And if a studio wants to last, it doesn’t just hire great people – it helps create them.
Outreach isn’t a side initiative at Cast Iron Games. It is a core part of how the studio thinks about the future of the industry, and that commitment is visible in every interaction, partnership, and event the team engages with.
More Than Just Showing Up
At Cast Iron Games, outreach goes far beyond the occasional guest talk. This work is active and ongoing. The studio collaborates with universities, colleges, and industry partners across the UK, delivering talks, hosting panels, running mock interviews, and supporting careers fairs. Whether in Doncaster, Sheffield, Derby, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Oldham, Leamington Spa, or beyond, the goal remains the same: provide aspiring developers with real insight into what the industry actually looks like.
This isn’t about polished soundbites. It’s about honest conversations:
• What does it take to break into games?
• What skills actually matter?
• What does a career path really look like?
By engaging directly with students and early-career talent, the studio helps demystify an industry that can often feel out of reach. These interactions show that there is a path for everyone, and that the first steps – no matter how small – are the start of something significant.
Building Relationships That Matter
Outreach is most effective when it is consistent. Cast Iron Games maintains strong, ongoing relationships with universities and colleges. The studio contributes to courses, offers feedback, and helps educators stay aligned with the realities of modern game development.
These relationships are a two-way street. They provide visibility into emerging talent and ensure that students are better prepared for the industry they are about to enter. By keeping education and industry connected, the studio creates an environment where students can step into their first roles confident, informed, and ready to contribute. That consistency and commitment is what makes outreach more than just a box-ticking exercise.
Built Into the DNA
This commitment to outreach is also part of the studio’s DNA.
The studio co-founders, Arden Aspinall and Jon Seymour, have a long history of supporting junior talent, with many members of today’s team having taken their first steps into the industry under their guidance. That ethos has naturally carried through to Cast Iron Games.
“Investing in that early stage isn’t optional for us; it’s a responsibility,” Jon explains. “By helping people take their first steps into the industry, and supporting games education, we’re not just building future teams – we’re helping shape the future of game development itself.”
The studio’s ongoing relationships with universities, colleges, and partners such as Game Republic are just one reflection of this approach. A more deliberate investment in outreach is also evident. In October 2025, a Senior Talent Acquisition and Development Specialist was appointed to go beyond recruitment and take ownership of the studio’s outreach and early careers initiatives.
This was a conscious decision. By bringing in someone with over a decade of experience in education, alongside years spent in games recruitment and careers support, the studio ensures that outreach is informed, structured, and meaningful. It is the difference between occasional visits and a sustained program that shapes futures.
Supporting the Wider Ecosystem
Outreach at Cast Iron Games is also part of a broader effort to strengthen the UK games ecosystem.
Through engagement with initiatives like Into Games, Game Academy, and Game Republic, the studio is able to contribute to something bigger. These organisations play a critical role in opening doors, improving access, and creating clearer pathways into games.
More recently, Cast Iron Games joined The Game Assembly UK as an industry partner, another step in building a stronger, more connected talent pipeline. These partnerships ensure that students are not just learning theory, but developing the practical skills, workflows, and understanding that studios rely on every day.
Every conversation, workshop, and panel is part of a wider investment in the future of the industry. Success depends not just on financial investment, but on investment in people, education, and the creation of pathways where talent can thrive.
A Seat at the Table
Outreach also means helping shape the future of education itself.
The studio’s partnerships, such as serving on the advisory board for Newcastle University, allows it to contribute directly to discussions around curriculum, skills development, and industry alignment. This ensures that what is being taught today reflects what will be needed tomorrow.
The industry evolves quickly. Tools change. Platforms shift. Expectations grow. By staying involved at this level, the studio helps keep education relevant and gives students the best possible chance of success. Cast Iron Games is not just informing students – it is helping guide the education system itself to better prepare the next generation. That is how investment in talent pays dividends for the entire ecosystem.
Why It Matters
At its core, outreach is about responsibility.
The games industry has grown into a global powerhouse, but with that comes an obligation to support the next generation of developers. Talent should not be limited by access, awareness, or opportunity.
By investing time and effort into outreach, the studio helps level that playing field. It gives people the knowledge, confidence, and perspective they need to take their first steps. And in doing so, it helps build a more inclusive, capable, and sustainable industry.
It is not just about filling roles. It is about shaping careers. Every workshop, mentorship, and panel contributes to a stronger, healthier industry for everyone.
A Personal Perspective
For Senior Talent Acquisition and Development Specialist Warren Leigh, this work carries a deeper significance.
Before joining the games industry in 2018, Warren spent over a decade in education. That experience continues to shape how outreach is approached today.
“It is a real privilege to engage with new and aspiring game development talent,” he explains. “I have had the opportunity to watch graduates and junior developers grow into successful seniors and leads. To see that progression firsthand is incredibly exciting, and genuinely a privilege to be part of.”
This perspective brings an added layer of authenticity to every interaction, whether it is a careers talk, a mock interview, or a panel discussion. At its heart, outreach is about people.
Looking Ahead
The work does not stop here. As the studio continues to grow, outreach becomes increasingly vital. Industry success depends not only on financial investment, but on investment in people, education, and building opportunities for the next generation of developers.
With more events on the horizon, including the Game Republic Careers Conference at the University of Salford this June, the studio continues to expand its outreach efforts and deepen its impact. Each event, conversation, and connection is another step toward building a stronger future for the industry.
By supporting students and early-career talent today, Cast Iron Games is investing in the skilled, confident, and adaptable developers the industry will rely on tomorrow.
The next generation of developers is already out there – they just need the opportunity and the support to forge their path.