The UK esports industry is poised for significant expansion in 2025, according to a new report from the British Esports Federation. The comprehensive study predicts a 25% increase in both viewership and revenue compared to 2024, with particular growth expected in tournament operations, content creation, and corporate esports divisions.
Key Findings
The report highlights several key growth drivers:
Tournament Expansion: Major tournament organisers are increasing their UK-based events, with ESL, BLAST, and domestic operators all announcing expanded calendars for 2025. This directly translates to increased demand for event staff, production crews, and broadcast talent.
Corporate Investment: Non-endemic brands continue to enter the space, with automotive, financial services, and FMCG companies all increasing their esports marketing budgets. This creates roles in partnership management, brand activation, and esports marketing.
Education Sector Growth: UK universities are expanding their esports programmes, with five new degree courses launching in 2025. This creates demand for esports lecturers, programme managers, and industry liaison roles.
Job Market Implications
For job seekers, the report suggests the following areas will see the highest growth:
- Event Operations - Tournament directors, event managers, production coordinators
- Content & Social - Content managers, social media specialists, video producers
- Commercial - Partnership managers, sales executives, brand strategists
- Broadcast - Casters, analysts, observers, production staff
The average UK esports salary is also expected to rise by 8-12% as competition for talent intensifies.
Regional Opportunities
While London remains the hub of UK esports activity, the report notes growing opportunities in Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh as regional scenes develop and organisations seek cost-effective locations for operations.
The British Esports Federation's CEO commented: "2025 represents a pivotal year for UK esports. We're seeing professionalisation across all areas of the industry, which means more stable, well-paying career opportunities for those looking to enter the space."
For job seekers, now is an excellent time to position yourself for these emerging opportunities through skills development and networking within the UK esports community.