Toby
Rolfe

Why did you choose NTU and your course?

I came to NTU for the course, other Esports courses at the time primarily revolved around the competitive aspect. I knew that taking a production specific course would allow for both the transferrable knowledge of the broadcast sector, whilst still being surrounded by a similar crowd and having the chance to compete on the side.

What’s your favourite thing about your course?

The people you get to meet. With it being a smaller course, you get to create a lot of great connections with those in and around your year that will last outside of university. A lot of great talent has also worked on and came from this course, making for a massive privilege to work and learn alongside them.

How have you found the course facilities?

Top Tier. No where else in the country can you be surrounded by high end broadcast technologies and facilities with the freedom to use throughout the week. Not only is a great place to learn but also hang out and show off to friends from other courses and universities.

Have you worked on any live briefs or competitions?

Of course! From a production perspective, I’ve gotten the chance to work with BBC for Children in Need; Game On, National Student Esports, NUEL, Riot Games: Play Club and many more.  

During my last year however, I reached the pinnacle of the Esports Society, becoming the president during my last year that meant Directing events such as Esports Varsity or working with massive brands such as Red Bull that taught me the importance of soft skills and the power of communication.

Has your course included any guest speakers or industry trips?

There have been many opportunities to talk to established personnel within the esports and broadcast industry, allowing for a clear and personal insight into the industry that made for some great conversations and some even greater LinkedIn connections.

When I’m not studying…

What three words would you use to describe Nottingham?

Vibrant, diverse, lively

What do you think of the creative and cultural scene in Nottingham?

It’s incredible! As much as it might not to apply to Esports, Nottingham still has massive amounts of cultures intertwined into the community to make sure everyone feels included. The University alone has hundreds of societies open to all to help you find your culture.  

Creatively, Nottingham is one of the most artistic cities in the UK that shows off so much of their culture in and around the city that makes for an inspiring environment for all to absorb and learn from

Where would you recommend visiting in Nottingham?

If it’s for a good day out it has be Wollaton, makes for a great walk surrounded by all strings of nature and is pretty cool for a Batman fan! Night out however, NQ64 or Golf Fang. Both give a refreshing take on nights out and prove it can be more than just drinking.

If you could give new students some advice, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to try

What do you think of the course staff?

A tightknit crew each with their own strengths that make any challenge you face a whole lot easier. Made for lots of learning experiences whilst still being able to joke around and have fun.

Have you used any of the student support services or NTU’s Employability team?

I’ve had a few interactions during Employability lectures that were able to layout a rough path ahead from what skills and experience I had gained from my time at the University.

About the future...

What’s next for you after NTU?

Seeing as many of the roles I fell into were more of the leadership variant, I hope to be leading a team of my own some day and creating something special from what I learnt and experienced at university. I do however hope to stick around a little longer in the production industry first to help grow my existing knowledge and learn from the pros.

Has the employability team helped you plan for life beyond NTU?

They have helped layout many options that align with my goals and current skillset, I will definitely go back once more before graduation to ensure all roads have been visited and the future ahead is one I’d like to head down.