Lien and Katy bring their A-game as VR developer lays out ambitious vision for its talent academy

The world’s largest virtual reality game developer, nDreams, is celebrating a milestone at its academy with a major team shake-up and new roadmap to help even more people break into the industry.

Based right here in Farnborough, the business launched nDreams Academy in April 2021, and has since hired 50 team members who’ve risen through the programme.

That’s an average of almost two every month, making 17 per cent of the firm’s 230-strong team academy graduates.

It’s a mission which new arrivals Lien Cross and Katy Flynn are keen to build upon.

Katy Flynn

Lien takes on the role of Early Careers Manager at nDreams, with a decade of specialism in talent development at Surrey County Council behind her.

She’s joined by Katy, incoming Head of Recruitment, who has previously picked up experience at both Meta and Google.

Together they’ll oversee the rollout of six new roles for the academy – not only at nDreams’ Farnborough HQ, but also their fully remote Studio Elevation and Near Light in Brighton.

Lien is also keen to get a wider range of people involved in the programme.

Lien Cross

“As someone who began their career as an apprentice, I understand the vital importance of different pathways to access this industry and develop within it”, she said.

“I’m proud to be joining nDreams with the exciting mission to take the nDreams Academy even further, using my experience to help bring through the next generation of future games industry leaders.”

Data from Games Jobs Live has shown that entry-level positions make up only 2 per cent of all games industry openings this year – that’s around 55 total vacancies a month across the entire UK sector.

Compare that with the 3,500 students who completed gaming-related courses in 2021, and the problem is clear to see.

If the current landscape is tough for graduates, it’s even more so for those without a university education, as 86 per cent of people working in the UK games industry hold at least one degree.

This is the challenge which nDreams is hoping to tackle head-on.

Tamsin O’Luanaigh

“The games industry has taken positive steps in recent years to make access to careers more equitable, but there’s still a long way to go,” said Chief People Officer Tamsin O’Luanaigh.

“We want to be at the forefront of this push and I’m excited for Lien and Katy to help us build on the success we’ve already had with the nDreams Academy, to develop talent in areas of skills shortage.”

The programme has already made a big impact on the business over the last two years, with 80 per cent of those hired via the academy going on to receive promotions.

It’s been a driving force for nDreams’ meteoric growth – doubling their headcount last year and continuing on that trajectory in 2023 – and a shining example for their peers.

Tamsin added: “While our aim first and foremost is to ensure that talented people from all backgrounds can access roles at nDreams, we want to show other companies what’s possible and help achieve more widespread change in our fantastic industry.”

• ndreams.com/academy