Bett is proud to present Esports @ Bett, in partnership with British Esports Federation, for its fourth year! As a dedicated theatre and zone at Bett 2025, Esports @ Bett is the hub for educators to learn all about how esports can be implemented in the classroom as a learning tool.

Launched in 2022, this feature at Bett has inspired and enabled educators to take steps to launch esports facilities in their own learning environments. A highlight on the feature is the Esports @ Bett Student Championships, where esports teams from across the UK compete in tournaments and showcase their skills.

To celebrate four years of Esports @ Bett, we sat down with Danny Lee, Curriculum Manager of Sport and Esports at Loughborough College, coach of the Loughborough Lycans and one of his pupils and players, Luis Wood. We explored the benefits of esports, taking part in tournaments and the opportunities that arise from education institutions with an esports offering.

Luis Wood, who will be competing in the Esports @ Bett 2025 Student Champs as part of the Loughborough Lycans, was first attracted to the activity due to the sense of community and opportunities to compete with others. Watching professional players and teams has inspired him to improve his esports skillset including teamwork, resilience, communication skills and time management – all skills he has been able to adapt and apply in his academic success.

Not only is esports valuable in the classroom, but also for preparing students for future careers. “Esports creates an environment where students learn to trust their teammates, resolve conflicts and celebrate collective achievements—skills that are invaluable in any professional setting,” Lee explained. “As a coach, I emphasise time management and set clear expectations for balancing gaming with academics and personal responsibilities”.

Despite becoming more and more popular, with Colleges and Universities expanding their offering to include a variety of courses, esports is still misunderstood by many in education. “One major misconception is that esports is just ‘playing games’ and lacks educational or career value,” Wood told us. However, this is clearly not true, with students in esports being presented with a variety of career opportunities in areas such as technology, media, marketing and event management, and the ability to develop new skills, all while encouraging teamwork and community. “The collaborative and fast-paced nature of esports mirrors many modern workplaces, making it an excellent training ground for future careers”, Lee explained.

Loughborough College’s Rocket League team, the Loughborough Lycans, are returning to Bett to compete once more. “Bett combines the competitive excitement of esports with an educational focus, creating a unique platform for showcasing the synergy between gaming and learning”, Lee told us. “It’s a professional and inspiring environment that celebrates both the technical and personal growth of participants”.

When preparing for the Esports @ Bett Student Championships, the teams follow a strict training regimen. Wood let us in on the team’s tactics, saying “we’ve focused on honing our mechanics, refining team communication, and studying our opponents’ playstyles”.

However, this is not without Lee’s dedication to ensuring his students are balancing their commitment to esports with their academic and personal lives. To achieve this, Lee schedules regular check-ins with his students, encouraging healthy routines and works with staff across the College to ensure students are on track with all their studies.

Playing live on stage is a special moment for the team, as it gives them the opportunity to showcase their skills and challenges players to consider their roles in changing the perception of esports in education. “Representing our college fills me with pride and motivates me to excel. It’s an honour to showcase our talent and hard work while highlighting the potential of esports in an academic setting”, Wood told us.

Esports events such as Esports @ Bett’s tournaments can have significant influence on esports programmes, inspiring students and teachers to get involved and attracting potential partnerships. The show is an opportunity for students to and showcase Loughborough College’s commitment to their students’ passions and pursuits.

When asked about how educators or institutions can support the establishment of their own esports programmes, Lee advised that the foundation is understanding the interests of students and creating a supportive infrastructure in response. Additionally, “Partnerships with local organisations, provide access to resources, and ensure there’s a balance between competitive goals and holistic student development”. 

Kalam Neale, Head of Education at British Esports Federation said “We are proud to bring Esports @ Bett back for its fourth consecutive year as Association Partner. It is amazing to see the success stories such as this one that continue to emerge from centres delivering our esports qualifications and programmes and to see the amazing impact of the British Esports Student Champs. We look forward to meeting new educators looking to bring an innovative approach to a future-facing curriculum at Bett 2025. You can find us throughout the show on the Esports Theatre and at our stand NJ70 and can contact our education team any time by emailing education@britishesports.org or visiting our website www.britishesports.org ”.

We’re certainly excited to have the Loughborough Lycans returning to Esports @ Bett! Alongside them will be teams from St Vincent College, Coleg Sir Gar, SGS College, King Edward VI, Lycee International de Londres Winston Churchill, York College, and Gower College Swansea. Don’t miss out on the Esports @ Bett Student Championships and everything the show has to offer!

If you'd like to join them at Bett, you can secure your ticket today.