Businesses attending the Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Festival will be able to experience a live Esports demonstration.

Students from Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) will be hosting an interactive competition between local businesses and T-Level digital and Esports students on the final day of the festival, on Friday 20 March.

As well as the opportunity to take part in the 'Rocket League' challenge, there will be representatives from the college on hand to discuss the growing Esports industry at the free to attend Business Festival.

The festival will take place from Monday 16 to Friday 20 March, and is organised by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Ph Productions. It has also received support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Robin Tankard, Lecturer of Computing & Esports at Newcastle and Stafford College's Group (NSCG), Newcastle College said: "The exciting world of Esports is being introduced to the local business community by students from NSCG Newcastle College at the 2026 Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Festival.

"Students will be hosting a thrilling all-comers 'Rocket League' challenge that will pit local entrepreneurs against T Level digital and Esports students at the Guildhall on Friday 20th March.

"Esports is a rapidly growing £8 billion industry which is an offshoot of the £300 billion video gaming industry, where the average age of entrepreneurs is 25. 

"NSCG is pleased to support the 2026 Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Festival to showcase new and emerging enterprises critical to the prosperity of our region."

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The Esports demonstration will take place in Lancaster Building in the Town from 11:30am to 12:45pm and will be repeated at 1:30pm to 2:30pm on Friday 20 March.

On the same day, Ben McManus from Wavemaker and Dave Edwards from University of Staffordshire will be holding a talk on Digital Futures: Skills Development, Creative Careers and Digital Industry workshop. 

Ben McManus will also be hosting a creative industries panel at 12:45pm, along with Clare Wood of the British Ceramics Biennial, Creative Consultant and Cultural Advisor Sub Basu and Emily Turner of Artichoke - the team behind the Lumiere festival.

Businesses are also invited to take a free 121 digital consultation with Wavemaker on Business and Networking Day at Lymelight Boulevard (Wednesday 18 March).

The creative and digital industries day will come to a close with a presentation by Aninver, who will discuss the Creative Industries and Action Plan Update, before a coffee tasting and roasting experience at Piccoloco at Keele in Town on Ironmarket.

Pete Herbert of PH Productions said: "Closing the festival with a focus on the creative and digital industries feels exactly right.

"These sectors sit at the intersection of innovation, storytelling and technology, shaping how we work, communicate and grow as a region.

"Ending the week here reminds us that the future of business will be built not just on ideas, but on creativity and digital capability."

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Workshops and guest speakers will feature on each day.

For more information about the Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Festival visit the website here.

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