Build Your Creative Career in Leamington Spa
At SAE Leamington Spa, you’ll work in professional recording studios, podcast studios, film and production spaces, and high-spec games labs. You don’t just learn the craft. You work alongside the industry while you learn it.
Our campus shares a building with The Fold, a commercial creative co-working space as well as home to independent agency and industry partners, Cogent. The facilities you use for your projects are the same ones used by external creative companies. The studios, the equipment, the environment: it’s all genuinely professional because it’s all genuinely in use.
So, what’s special about SAE Leamington Spa? You’re not preparing to join the industry. You’re already in it.
Take a look at our Leamington Spa Campus
Like what you see in Leamington Spa? Come and experience it for yourself.
Life at Leamington Spa
A town geared towards young people.
Leamington Spa is safe, welcoming, and well-suited to student life:
- Independent cinemas and cinema clubs
- Bowling, shopping, and social spaces
- Strong café and food culture
- Green spaces and parks for wellbeing and downtime
The town is picturesque and historic, with distinctive architecture and a growing creative identity. It’s not a party city, but it’s not sleepy either. It’s comfortable, affordable, and offers everything students need close by.
Students here form tight communities, both on campus and in the town. It’s the kind of place where you build genuine relationships, not just collect contacts.
LEAMINGTON SPA LECTURERS = INDUSTRY INSIDERS
Your lecturers collaborate with major brands and contribute to award-winning projects, bringing real industry experience directly into the classroom. Check out who you can learn from at SAE Leamington Spa.
Jen Flannery
A content strategist and lecturer blending storytelling with digital marketing. Alongside running her own writers’ events business, she has collaborated with indie studio Kwalee and appeared on podcasts including Blaze World and Fixate and Binge. With a background in games recruitment and online content creation, she brings hands-on industry knowledge into the classroom — from brand-building and audience growth to podcasting, video and community strategy. Content Creation Lecturer
James Thompson
A filmmaker and lecturer whose work has featured in Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Knotfest and Revolver Magazine. He has collaborated with leading music brands including Marshall Amps, Tanglewood Guitars and The Guitar Show UK, and captured live events from Supersonic to Mangata. Bringing industry experience across music media, festivals and film production, he equips students with both creative vision and real-world production insight. Film Lecturer
Nathan Flannery
A games designer and programmer with experience spanning indie development, AR mobile apps and industry panels at Interactive Futures and Game Dev Group. Host of a games podcast featuring guests such as John Romero (Romero Games) and Ash Millman, he connects students directly to contemporary industry voices. With expertise in Unreal Engine and interactive storytelling, he empowers emerging developers to build bold, playable worlds. Games Design & Programming Lecturer
Scott Smith
A games artist and animator specialising in both traditional illustration and cutting-edge 3D workflows. Working across Adobe Photoshop, ZBrush, Autodesk Maya and Substance Designer, his freelance practice bridges fine art foundations with modern digital production. Bringing deep knowledge of art history, animation and real-time pipelines, he helps students translate classical craft into industry-ready game art. Games Art & Animation Lecturer
Tanith Davies
A 3D artist who has worked with leading studios including Kwalee and Voodoo, contributing to over 40 prototypes and 8 live titles such as Perfect Coffee, Cinema Tycoon 3D and Airport Security. As the sole 3D artist on rapid prototyping teams, she shaped visual styles across multiple genres, from stylised characters to production-ready assets. She brings fast-paced studio experience directly into the classroom, helping students think and create like industry professionals. Game Art & Animation Lecturer
EMPLOYABILITY IN LEAMINGTON SPA
Leamington Spa is widely recognised as a centre for games development.
The town hosts numerous games studios, including Playground Games and Maverick Games. For students studying games development, games art, or interactive media, this means:
- Direct proximity to working studios
- Opportunities to mix informally with industry professionals
- Local employment opportunities
- A community built around games
If you’re serious about games, Leamington Spa is one of the best places in the UK to study.
Support at SAE Leamington Spa
Personal support. Individual attention.
SAE Leamington Spa is a small campus with a strong community feel. Staff and students know each other by name. Teaching and support are tailored to individual goals, not generic cohorts.
This size allows staff to:
- Identify opportunities suited to your specific interests
- Connect you with the right industry contacts
- Adapt teaching to your career pathway
- Build close, supportive relationships
The campus is small because we keep it that way. It works. Support is proactive, not reactive.
Leamington Spa looks good on screen. It's even better in person.
Leamington Spa FAQs
Yes. Leamington Spa is a welcoming, student-friendly town with a growing creative community. It’s particularly well-known in the games industry and offers a calm, focused environment for studying. The town is safe, affordable, and has everything students need: independent cinemas, cafés, green spaces, and social venues. It’s less overwhelming than a major city but still well-connected, with Birmingham and Coventry just 30 minutes away.
Yes. Leamington Spa is a picturesque, historic town with a relaxed atmosphere. It’s easy to navigate, with most amenities within walking or cycling distance. The town is known for its distinctive Regency architecture, parks, and welcoming community. Students find it a comfortable, low-pressure environment where they can focus on their work without the noise and stress of a big city.
Leamington Spa is significantly more affordable than London or other major UK cities. Rent, food, and social life are all reasonably priced. Many students choose to commute from nearby areas like Coventry or Warwick, which can be even more affordable. The town offers good value for money while still providing access to larger cities when needed.
While SAE doesn’t offer its own accommodation, students typically live in:
- Purpose-built student accommodation in Leamington Spa
- Shared houses in the town centre or nearby residential areas
- Student accommodation in nearby Coventry or Warwick (with easy commutes)
Many students at SAE Leamington Spa choose to commute, supported by excellent public transport. The campus is a 5-minute walk from Leamington Spa train station, with direct links to Coventry, Birmingham, and surrounding areas.
While SAE doesn’t offer its own accommodation, we’ve gathered popular options that Leamington students use. You can view your accommodation options here.
Yes. Leamington Spa is one of the UK’s key centres for games development, home to studios like Playground Games and Maverick Games. Students studying games-related courses have direct access to industry professionals and employment opportunities.
For film and content creation, the town’s period architecture makes it attractive for shoots, and there are independent cinemas and creative venues supporting the local scene. While smaller than a big city like London, Leamington Spa offers focused, accessible opportunities – especially in games – and is just 30 minutes from Birmingham and Coventry for wider networks.
SAE Leamington Spa is embedded within The Fold, a commercial creative co-working space. This means:
- You study alongside working creatives and companies
- Facilities are used both by students and industry professionals
- Daily exposure to potential employers and collaborators
- Authentic professional environment, not a simulation
The small campus size also allows staff to identify opportunities tailored to individual students, connect you with the right contacts, and support your specific career pathway. Graduates have moved into freelance work, junior roles in games studios and agencies, marketing and content roles, and employment within creative sectors.
Yes. SAE Leamington Spa actively supports students into work by connecting them with industry, building their portfolio, and creating real opportunities to be seen.
We bring industry professionals into the classroom through guest speakers, so you learn directly from people working in the field today.
You will also attend events and networking opportunities, helping you build connections with creatives, studios, and potential employers before you graduate.
We encourage students to submit their work to the SAE Awards, giving you the chance to gain recognition and showcase your work on a global platform.
Everything is designed to help you graduate with a strong, industry-ready portfolio, so you are prepared to take your next step into the creative industries.
SAE Leamington Spa is located in the town centre, a 5-minute walk from Leamington Spa train station:
Our Address:
SAE Leamington Spa,
2 Spencer Yard,
Leamington Spa,
CV31 3NE
Yes. The small campus size means staff know every student by name and can provide highly personalised support. Teaching and guidance are tailored to individual goals, and staff proactively identify opportunities suited to each student’s interests. Academic, wellbeing, and technical support are all easily accessible, and the close-knit community means help is never far away.
Opening Hours
Trimester Breaks
You can email us at leamingtonspa@sae.ac.uk or call us on 03330 112 315.
Any questions?
For any questions regarding our Leamington Spa Campus or if you’d like more information about studying at SAE, please contact our Enquiries Team on 03330 112 315 or email leamingtonspa@sae.ac.uk
