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Adapting gaming tech for social good could help economic recovery in Coventry & Warwickshire

Adapting games technology for social good and positive health could be a strong future economic strand for Coventry and Warwickshire, according to a leading industry figure.

Sarah Windrum, who is Chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, told a group of business leaders that collaborations between local tech businesses and our NHS Trusts, such as UHCW’s new Innovation Hub, will not only be key areas of innovation but could help drive a post-pandemic economic recovery in the region.

Windrum, who is CEO of IT business Emerald Group in Leamington Spa, was speaking at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s latest #PolicyHour event.

She said: “It’s been really difficult over the last 18 months particularly for events, festivals and City of Culture but I’ve seen a lot of innovation.

“Health is one area. We are working very closely with UHCW and their new Innovation Hub engaging in new digital partnerships. We have a huge wealth of tech expertise in games technology locally - how do we apply that to finding new solutions such as helping people to manage their own health and wellbeing?”

She highlighted one project involving a games development company in Leamington Spa looking at the “gamification of mental health” and creating a virtual “self-care management space”.

She said: “People still look at games as not being good for us. How do we change that narrative? Games and games technology can be good for our self-care - and that’s a real area for growth.

“Games studios have the opportunity to develop their own IP with skills traditionally used in mobile games development for entertainment now being turned to social good.

“It’s also exciting to see our advances in electrification and the proposed Gigafactory. One of the big questions and challenges is: how do we get young people engaged in that? I see a lot of young people getting turned off by Computer Science at school but these are the future skills needed.”

The Portsmouth-born entrepreneur was the first in her family to go to university. As a self-confessed booksmart teen, she gives credit to her secondary school teacher Mr Money and thanks him for pushing her to apply to Oxbridge. She graduated from Oxford University in 2002 with a First-Class degree in English Literature.

Switching from a career in publishing to technology in her late twenties, she then launched her own company. After openly discussing her difficult mental health experiences in her early career, she is a keen supporter of initiatives in which employers can support staff through the “ups and downs” of life.

She said: “What I love about the LEP is that it’s a partnership of public sector, private sector, universities and Further Education. It’s important we provide skills and opportunities for all, which is true ‘levelling up’. We also all need to talk more about mental health.

“We have been through a rollercoaster over the last 18 months. It’s understandable people need support in the workplace.”

Sean Rose, Head of Policy at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “It was great to welcome Sarah Windrum onto our latest #PolicyHour online event.

“Over the past year or so, they have proved an invaluable way of keeping businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire informed and engaged with decision makers at a local, regional and national level.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .