Leading bingo firm teams up with Sunderland College

Celebrations at Tombola HQ: Phil Cronin (Tombola), Anne Isherwood (Sunderland College), with Ian Walshaw (Tombola)

The biggest online bingo company in Europe has teamed up with a college in Sunderland, to train the next generation of game developers.

Tombola Bingo has joined forces with Sunderland College.

The Tombola Academy will be based at Tombola’s head office in Wylam Wharf, Sunderland, where its 200 employees are based.

The company, one of the largest employers of game and web developers in the North East, develops all of its market-leading online games.

The Academy will provide an alternative to going to university and give 12 month contracts to apprentices, who will be taught about the phases of game creation from the early design to the release date, and all the aspects of creating a website.

Tombola Chief Executive, Phil Cronin, said: “Tombola is the market leader in Europe and we believe much of our success is down to our unique IP, which is all designed and developed in the North East.

“Finding the next generation of imaginative developers and inventive thinkers is a priority and a challenge for the company.

“We want to attract and develop the best talent from the region to work with tombola to originate new games and develop our overall online proposition.”

Anne Isherwood, principal of Sunderland College, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering such an important Sunderland company in this new, exciting venture.

“Software development and the digital industries are areas of specialism in the region and it’s important that companies like tombola know that there is a steady stream of well-trained students with the right skills and attitude ready to fill their vacancies.

“As a college, it’s important that local companies know we have the flexibility to create bespoke solutions to their training and employment needs.”

Ian Walshaw, head of IT for tombola, described the culture of tombola as “perfect” for technology specialists and enthusiasts.

“The 12-month apprenticeship at the tombola Academy is aimed at those who are really passionate about software development – particularly games and web applications,” he said.

“The tombola Academy will provide an alternative to university; training will take place at our head office, it will be online-oriented and very interactive.

“With some initiative and determination, apprentices will over time be able to move into senior development roles within the team and one day hopefully into a project leading role.

“We have partnered with Sunderland College to ensure the chosen applicants can align a first class College education with our hands on training.”