Games art studio plans to bring 100 jobs to Alderley Park

Art studio for the gaming industry, Airship Interactive, has announced plans to move its operations to Alderley Park, and create over 100 jobs.

Currently based in Lytham, the business provides art services to gaming giants including Disney, EA, Microsoft, 2K and Sony, and has committed to taking 15,000 sq ft and Alderley Park’s Glasshouse tech hub. Plans will bring over 100 jobs to the campus by 2023, with plans for over 200 roles to be created in the wider South Manchester area in the next three years.

Airship Interactive CEO and founder, Joe Harford said:

“Manchester is one of the best cities in the world, it is the home of great industry and innovation, so making the leap to Glasshouse at Alderley Park, just 30 minutes from the centre and situated within 400 acres of inspirational countryside, made complete sense to us. 

“Airship is unlike many other game art studios; we are driven by a culture of excellence not just in our game art but in our people. This move is not just about the business’s growth, but about providing our crew with the tools and environment they deserve to continue being the best at what they do. That’s why, year after year, the world’s biggest game creators want to collaborate with us.”

Tim Horton, Airship’s Chief Commercial Officer added:

“This move has been many months in the making, we wanted to choose a location that would represent our values: quality, ethics, reliability, growth, passion, and innovation. That’s what Glasshouse is about. It’s a thriving tech community with first-class businesses and exceptional facilities for our crew.”

The move follows a £450,000 investment, enabling the art studio to expand its service delivery, support recruitment and grow its global footprint.

At Glasshouse, Airship Interactive will join a burgeoning ecosystem of innovative tech businesses with expertise encompassing AI, software development, digital animation and fintech.

Josh Whiteley, Head of Commercial at Bruntwood SciTech, the company behind Alderley Park, said:

“We’re really excited to be welcoming Airship Interactive to Glasshouse. Glasshouse has been specifically designed for hi-tech, innovative and creative companies, providing space to be inspired and collaborate – it’s the perfect place for Airship Interactive’s next chapter in the North West and I can’t wait to see what they get up to in their studio.”