Esports Mixer 2025

New College Swindon hosted its first ever 'Esports Mixer' event in March as a networking event for educators, businesses and students. NTesports Nik Turner was one of a few guest speakers.

The event was organised by Christ Baxter, Head of Esports at the College. Chris reflects on what was a very successful event.

“Where do I start? Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to host my first-ever Esports Mixer networking event. The purpose was to bring together individuals who share the same passion for Esports as I do, and to introduce others to the industry and its integration into education.

What began as a simple conversation and idea about broadening Esports in the south has now come to fruition. Organising and hosting this event was daunting and far outside my comfort zone, despite my daily interactions with students in the classroom. However, now that it has concluded, I can confidently say it was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had. It was remarkable to share a room with such a diverse range of knowledge and experience within the industry, to exchange experiences, meet new people, and listen to guest speakers discuss their contributions to the growth of Esports.

Despite being the face of the event, I was fortunate to have the support and backing of my colleagues. Their contributions ranged from handling bookings, sending out invitations, making last-minute preparations, sharing their knowledge and experiences of hosting events, to the students who assisted in the preparation and on the day. I am grateful for all of their efforts, which contributed to a successful event.

I am glad that I took the leap to proceed with this event, and from conversations afterwards, it is evident that there is a clear need for more of these types of events.

Thank you to everyone who attended and made this event a success!”