Ecosystem & NGB Overview

Competitive video gaming in Scotland operates through a network of commercial publishers, grassroots clubs, educational institutions, independent event hosts, and players.

This page outlines how the Scottish esports landscape fits together, where Scottish Esports CIC sits within that network, and our specific role as the national federation.

The Scottish Esports Landscape

Five distinct groups keep the domestic ecosystem running:

Game Publishers & Developers
Companies such as Epic Games, Valve, and Riot Games own the intellectual property (IP) for competitive titles. All tournament activity operates under publisher licensing terms.
Grassroots Clubs & Community Groups
Local clubs, university societies, and casual meetups that host sessions, build teams, and drive day-to-day participation.
Education & Public Sector
Secondary schools, Further Education (FE) colleges, universities, and local authorities integrating esports through formal QS (formerly SQA) qualifications, digital skills programmes, and extracurricular clubs.
Commercial Operators & Event Hosts
Independent businesses running commercial leagues, LAN events, and broadcast productions.
National Governing Body (NGB)
The central, non-profit organisation setting national standards, safeguarding frameworks, educational guidance, and sector representation.

What Scottish Esports CIC Is (and What It Isn’t)

Incorporated in October 2024 as a non-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) limited by guarantee, Scottish Esports operates as the national federation for competitive video gaming in Scotland.

Our positioning is straightforward: Where publishers own the IP, we govern the play. We do not claim ownership over video games; we establish the duty of care, safety standards, and administrative frameworks for the people playing them in Scotland.

What We Are	What We Are Not
The Federation for Scottish Play Setting local standards for conduct, player safety, safeguarding compliance, and competition integrity.	An IP Owner We do not own game code, assets, or trademarks, and operate strictly within publisher licensing terms.
An Autonomous National Body Supporting schools, FE colleges, grassroots clubs, and independent tournament hosts.	A Commercial League Operator We do not run proprietary commercial leagues or sell team franchises.
A Non-Profit Facilitator Reinvesting all organisational surplus directly back into community resources and infrastructure.	A Profit-Driven Enterprise Driven by private shareholder returns or commercial gain.

What We Are

What We Are Not

The Federation for Scottish Play

Setting local standards for conduct, player safety, safeguarding compliance, and competition integrity.

An IP Owner

We do not own game code, assets, or trademarks, and operate strictly within publisher licensing terms.

An Autonomous National Body

Supporting schools, FE colleges, grassroots clubs, and independent tournament hosts.

A Commercial League Operator

We do not run proprietary commercial leagues or sell team franchises.

A Non-Profit Facilitator

Reinvesting all organisational surplus directly back into community resources and infrastructure.

A Profit-Driven Enterprise

Driven by private shareholder returns or commercial gain.

Our Core Mission: Game publishers create and own the titles; Scottish Esports builds the governance backbone, safeguarding standards, and administrative tools that allow Scottish community groups, schools, and independent event hosts to thrive safely.

How We Govern the Play

As the national body, our day-to-day work focuses on protecting participants, supporting volunteers, and elevating local standards across four operational areas:

Standards & Safeguarding
Establishing baseline guidelines for player protection. This includes providing guidance on Disclosure Scotland and PVG Scheme developments, helping organisers access safeguarding resources, and setting clear online conduct standards.

Grassroots Infrastructure
Reducing the administrative burden on volunteers by publishing open-access templates for club constitutions, risk assessments, and event checklists.

Curriculum & Educational Support
Working with schools, colleges, universities, and staff delivering QS (formerly SQA) esports units to provide practical classroom resources that bridge academic study and real-world industry practice.

National Representation
Providing a unified voice for Scottish gaming when engaging with government, educational bodies, national sports organisations, and international industry groups.

Starter Resources & Downloads

Below are open-access starter templates to help you introduce esports safely in your home, club, or community space:

[Download PDF] Scottish Esports Community Overview: A 2-page summary of safety basics, PEGI ratings, and NGB standards for parents, venue owners, and educators.
[Download DOCX] Model Code of Conduct & Player Agreement: An editable template setting clear behavior ground rules for local clubs, school teams, and community groups.

Ready to explore event planning or player health? Head back to the main Resource Hub, check out Grassroots Operations & Event Delivery, or explore Player Welfare, Coaching & Development.