Black Nova Designs has become the first company to sponsor the Esports team at the Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology.
This innovative partnership extends far beyond financial support, with Black Nova Designs providing hands-on involvement in lessons and industry-specific mentoring.
Founded in 2015, Black Nova Designs is an IT, website design, and hosting company based in Calne. Since the partnership began in 2024, the company has provided students with team jerseys, collaborated on the growth of Esports within the college and wider community, and actively participated in classroom discussions.
Esports teacher, Chris Baxter, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying: "We are hugely grateful to have Black Nova Designs as a sponsor.
"From the very start, Danielle and Kyle have been a pleasure to work and collaborate with. Their enthusiasm and passion have been instrumental in providing my students with their very own jerseys, while also generating ideas on how Esports can grow, not only within our college but in the wider community.
"We are excited to build on this partnership and create even greater opportunities for our learners."
As part of their Esports curriculum, Level 3 students have been working on Esports events, which tasks them with planning and running their own event. This led to the creation of an in-person Valorant Tournament, which took place on 17th March at the Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology.
Black Nova Designs sponsored the event, offering in-person support and providing trophies in collaboration with Tilia Craft, a Black Nova Designs website client.
The college will also host an Esports Mixer Networking Event on 26th March, bringing together educators, professionals, and enthusiasts to discuss the growing role of Esports in education and its role in developing key skills for students.
Beyond sponsorship, Black Nova Designs has embedded itself in student learning, bridging the gap between education and the real-world tech industry. The company's founders, Danielle and Kyle Holmes, have visited the college for open discussions with students about careers in IT and have hosted Esports students at their Christmas staff party.
An upcoming 'Build a PC' event will see students assembling PCs from individual components under the guidance of Black Nova's Kyle Holmes. The fastest students will have the opportunity to support a larger scale 'Build a PC' day later this year, raising funds for charity while honing their skills.
"I started teaching PC building to 8 to 16-year-olds because I wanted to bridge the gap between using technology and truly understanding it," Kyle explains.
"Too often, people in IT don’t fully grasp what’s powering their systems. So this partnership is all about giving students fundamental knowledge they can take into gaming, IT support or even future careers in the tech industry."
With plans to expand the 'Build a PC' initiative and continued involvement in college-led Esports events, Black Nova Designs is demonstrating its commitment to shaping the future of Swindon and Wiltshire's next generation of tech and gaming professionals.
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