Redundant gamers forge new careers with their own business

The team behind a mobile game downloaded more than 75 million times have launched their own business in Leamington’s ‘Silicon Spa’.

Well Played Games has been launched at Pure Offices in Tachbrook Road by colleagues who were all previously at Exient in Leamington.

Adam Wells and Rich McClaughry have headed up the business, which is staffed by people all made redundant when Exient scaled back its UK operation after the Brexit vote.

The gamers’ skills were in demand – due to the high number of games developers in the area – and they could have easily landed jobs elsewhere.

However, after a consult with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce they decided to set-up their own business.

Well Played Games reunites a team that previously worked on games such as Angry Birds Transformers, which has been downloaded more than 75 million times and generated more than $20m of revenue.

Mr McClaughry said: “We had enjoyed great success with Exient and when we were all made redundant, we could have gone our separate ways.

“But we had worked together as a team for around four years and we knew we had a really good blend of people. It sounds corny, but we were like a family.

“Adam and I had the idea of setting up on our own and discussed it with the rest of the group. We had worked with Helena Bassett at the chamber previously and decided to get in touch once we knew we wanted to set up in business.

“(She) gave us some great advice in getting started and she’s given us some really good opportunities to apply for grant funding.”

The firm has also consulted the chamber to help it better target international business opportunities.

“The support has been really valuable and I am sure we will tap into it more and more as the business grows,” he added.

In its first three months of trading, Well Played Games has turned over £200,000 and is now looking for further investment to help the company grow further.

“We’ve been working with another local developer and we are confident that we can bid for and win new business right across the world because of our track record,” said Mr McClaughry.

Helena Bassett said: “Leamington is popularly known as ‘Silicon Spa’ because of the range of companies in the games development sector.

“The team are developing an exciting company but, like many others in different sectors, they just needed some guidance on business planning and operations – and that’s exactly what we are here for.

“The support we have given has helped to create ten, high-end jobs for the area and I wish them every success for the future.”