The first of its kind in our industry, the program helps students gain valuable hands-on experience, while connecting fresh talent with participating companies in the fields of gaming, visual effects, animation and XR.

With the pilot’s first student cohort now deep into their work terms, DigiBC Executive Director Loc Dao sat down to talk about the program’s genesis and provide a status update – plus, share intel from students and employers about their WPP experiences so far.

“At Simply Sweet Games, we value inclusivity, mentorship, and sustainable development practices, and we see the WPP as a way to support the next generation of diverse game developers while contributing to the industry’s growth.”
–Carina Kom, Co-Founder & CPO, Simply Sweet Games

“I had developed my technical abilities through personal projects and other schooling, but was critically lacking the in-studio experience that so many employers in creative tech desire. That’s where the WPP program came in,”
–Mark Ahmadi, WPP Student, Simply Sweet Games

Building a Pipeline of Homegrown Talent

The first seeds of the WPP were sown several years ago, when DigiBC began work on a domestic workforce development strategy. At the time, it was becoming clear there was a need to invest in training and retaining talent within B.C.’s creative tech sector, says DigiBC’s Executive Director, Loc Dao.

With the support of BC’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, DigiBC began researching the state of the creative technology industry in the province, to better understand the ecosystem, including career and educational pathways, existing needs and challenges and the hiring patterns of local companies. Its findings led to nine key recommendations for supporting a sustainable talent pipeline in B.C., including bridging the gap between school and work to attract and retain junior talent – particularly at small to medium-sized companies.

These companies often have limited resources to recruit and support students and recent grads, which results in a barrier for entry-level employees. “As a result, students often aren’t exposed to the breadth of diverse companies and projects in B.C. – because we are home to a significant number of small- to medium-sized entities, along with studios and brands that are recognized worldwide,” says Loc.

“Our students are actively contributing to developing our games. Without them, we would not be able to complete the amount of work on our plate. Having students available to help means that we can now focus, create a better player experience, and provide more support to our staff.”
–Elisa Behn, People & Culture Director, Codename Entertainment

Bridging Gaps for Students and Employers

In response to these findings, and with the continued support of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, DigiBC designed a pilot project, the WPP, to help small and medium-sized companies connect with students. For qualified employers, this includes funding to subsidize work placements up to 70 per cent over a four- or eight-month period, along with recruiting and admin support to secure top student talent.

For students, the program augments on-the-job learning by providing interview and resumé prep, along with a tailored orientation program focused on “soft” workplace skills like communication and collaboration in creative technology settings. “A lot has changed with the rise of remote and hybrid work,” Loc says. “Smaller companies may not have the internal resources to train students on these new ways of working. Our orientation workshops have been built with direct employer input to better prepare students to navigate – and thrive – in the ‘new normal.’”

“I think the most valuable skill that I’ve gained so far comes from the experience of working with people other than just programmers – artists, designers, etc. Gaining experience in communicating with others who have different backgrounds and thought processes is something that I think is very valuable, especially to a game developer.”
–Allan Hu, WPP Student, Antic Games

“Allan’s eagerness to learn and experiment has allowed us to optimize game performance and accelerate development in several areas, particularly in gameplay systems and UI. We’ve greatly benefited from his fresh perspective on complex problems.”
–Oleg Vakhutin, Game Producer, Antic Games

Feedback and Evolution

WPP funding will support three further student cohorts in 2025, providing an opportunity to develop and test additional resources, including a customized e-learning module, focused on the use of AI in creative tech, this January. In the spring, the program will launch a sector-wide mentorship network, matching participating students with mentors across the creative technology industry – creating new pathways for learning and horizon expansion.

With each cohort, the WPP will continue to evolve based on feedback from students and employers. “Our first group of students and employers have already provided constructive feedback on the program, including the orientation workshop, and we are adapting the delivery to two full-day workshops,” Loc says. “Winter will be a slightly quieter term, but we expect to have our busiest term in the summer as studios look to bring in more students.”

For participating companies, having a structured, well-supported placement program has opened up new possibilities. Smaller companies that previously may have hesitated to hire students are finding it easier to bring in young talent – with the reassurance that they’ll have DigiBC’s support every step of the way.

“This experience has only reinforced my desire to work in the creative industry, and now that I have experience, I’m more confident about searching for related jobs in the future.”
–Karen Shao, WPP Student, Buffalo Buffalo Games

“We believe strongly in providing entry-level and co-op opportunities to talented students to support the future of BC’s digital media industry. Karen has been an incredibly fast learner, picking up Unity, our game engine, very quickly, and contributing lots of quality code to the project.”
–Dylan Freddi, Lead Game Developer/Supervisor, Buffalo Buffalo Games

Next Steps for DigiBC’s Work Placement Program

Looking ahead, DigiBC plans to continue refining the program to ensure that it meets the needs of students and companies alike. The new AI-focused micro-credential will give students a competitive edge in an area of growing importance across creative industries, while the mentorship network aims to deepen their connections in the industry.

For Loc, the program’s success is not just in helping individual students find jobs but in fostering a stronger, more resilient creative tech community across B.C. “I’m excited to see smaller companies that haven’t traditionally hired students now getting involved,” he says. “Some of these companies are working on really innovative projects, and having students join them brings fresh perspectives that can benefit both sides.”

As DigiBC’s WPP grows, so does its potential to shape the future of creative tech in British Columbia, creating opportunities for the next generation of talent to stay, learn, and innovate close to home.

Learn more about the WPP program, including how to sign up, and an FAQ for students and employers.