Learn Unreal Engine, Build Your Portfolio, Launch Your Creative Career
IN4’s The Creative Engine: Learn Unreal Engine. Tell stories with Virtual Production. Build Your Portfolio. Launch Your Creative Career!
The Creative Engine Virtual Production & AI Powered Production is a 12-week Skills Bootcamp fully funded by the Mayor of London & the Department for Education. This level 4 Digital sector Skills Bootcamp is free for eligible Londoners aged 19+.
Designed for people ready to take the next step in their creative journey; whether you’re changing careers, studying, or freelancing & want to build new skills in Unreal Engine and Virtual Production.
Over 12 weeks, participants will learn how to create stunning 3D environments, bring characters to life with MetaHumans & animation, & experiment with AI tools for concept art & texturing. Taught by experienced industry professionals, learners will follow studio-standard workflows to design cinematic scenes & interactive story worlds.
By the end of the course, each participant will have produced a real-world virtual production project at a state-of-the-art LED stage to showcase in their portfolio.
Eligibility Criteria
⦿ Resident in Greater London.
⦿ Lived in the UK for at least 3 years.
⦿ Have the Right to Work in the UK.
⦿ 19+ years old on or before August 31st 2025.
⦿ Not been on another fully funded Skills Bootcamp this year.
⦿ Open to employment, self-employed, unemployed, or returning to work.
⦿ Able to commit to all sessions (not currently in full-time education or employment)
If you are unsure about your eligibility, please submit an application and we will follow up with you to confirm your details.
We welcome learners from all backgrounds and are especially passionate about supporting underrepresented voices in the creative industry. We encourage applications from women, non-binary people, global majority communities, neurodiverse people, and those from low-income backgrounds or non-traditional education pathways.
Programme Schedule
⦿ Week 1 (Dec 8): UE5 Setup & Navigation (Virtual)
⦿ Week 2 (Dec 15): Sequencer(Virtual)
⦿ Week 3 (Jan 5): MetaHumans (Virtual)
⦿ Week 4 (Jan 12): Generative Art & Ethical AI (In-person)
⦿ Week 5 (Jan 19): Visual Effects (Virtual)
⦿ Week 6 (Jan 26): AI Labs & VP Workflow (In-person)
⦿ Week 7 (Feb 2): Lighting (Virtual)
⦿ Week 8 (Feb 9): LED & nDisplay (In-person)
⦿ Week 9 (Feb 16): On-set LED block & freelance mentoring (In-person)
⦿ Week 10 (Feb 23): Post-production basics (Virtual)
⦿ Week 11 (Mar 2): Showcase preparation (Virtual)
⦿ Week 12 (Mar 9): Future Skills & Opportunities (Virtual)
Accessibility and learning support options
We are committed to providing accessible, flexible support & provide structured support pathways for our learners who may need additional support.
⦿ Recordings are available for online sessions & 1-to-1 meetings are available with instructors for missed in-person sessions.
⦿ We provide empathy-led mentoring to build confidence & resilience.
⦿ We encourage peer-to-peer support from the outset to foster a sense of community, accountability, & shared experience.
⦿ We offer regular wellbeing workshops (e.g. imposter syndrome, confidence).
⦿ We also offer digital inclusion support, including 1:1 onboarding support.
⦿ We can offer reduced pace options & flexible learning schedules dependent on your needs.
We know that every learner is different & are committed to providing you with learning dependent on your needs. During the application process, we ask about how you best learn, & any additional needs or adjustments that you might need, so we can offer you a personalised approach.
Programme Outcomes
You will graduate with:
⦿ A completion certificate
⦿ An Unreal Engine showreel
⦿ A cinematic or interactive Unreal Engine project
⦿ Hands-on virtual production experience
⦿ CV & portfolio development
⦿ Employer referrals & application support
This reflects standard creative industry hiring practice, where output & tool proficiency matter more than academic awards. These are valuable assets when applying for roles in the creative industries, supporting applications for roles in VFX, animation, games, virtual production, and more.
A key part of The Creative Engine is wraparound support for learners to find their next role, and learners continue to receive this support for up to six months after bootcamp completion. This support includes CV and portfolio clinics, job tracking, business planning, interview offers & pathways into employment or apprenticeships.
Frequently Asked Questions:
We do ask that you are committed to attending all of the sessions, in the case of an emergency or appointment, we ask that you catch up on the content you missed via the session recording and learning materials. Attendance will be tracked on a daily basis.
Skills Bootcamps are flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving you the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track you to an interview with a local employer.
They are being developed by the UK Government as part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee and Skills for Life with the Department for Education (DfE).
In partnership with employers, providers, and local authorities, Skills Bootcamps help learners develop the skills that are most in demand in their local area, improve employability and increase opportunities for people to progress throughout their lives.
No previous Unreal Engine experience is required, we just ask that you have creativity, curiosity, and a love for storytelling.
You can express your interest for the bootcamp via the ‘apply now’ button above. We will use the information you provide to confirm that you are eligible to participate.
You will then be asked to complete a short digital skills assessment, to ensure you have the baseline digital skills required to take part on the bootcamp.
You will then be invited to record an informal video interview where you can speak more about your experience, interests, and needs. This is so we can get to know you, ensure that this bootcamp is suited to your needs and make available any additional support that you might need.
Finally, you will need to complete an application form which will ask you for personal information, check that you have the right to work in the UK etc. This form is a requirement since the bootcamp is fully funded.
Once you have completed these steps, you will be sent an offer to join the bootcamp!
We offer access support on a case-by-case basis. Please get in touch with us and tell us what is required – creativeengine@in4group.co.uk
Please find below recommended specs. Your hardware should have Unreal Engine 5.6 installed.
Desktop
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11
- CPU: Quad-core Intel/AMD, 2.5 GHz+
- RAM: 32 GB
- GPU VRAM: 8 GB+
- GPU: DirectX 11/12 compatible, latest drivers
- Storage: NVMe SSD recommended (1 TB)
Laptop
- OS: Windows 10 (as above) or Windows 11
- CPU: Recent i7-H / Ryzen 7-H class
- RAM: 32 GB
- GPU VRAM: 8 GB+
- GPU: DX11/12 compatible (RTX 2000-series+/RX 6000-series+ play nicest with UE5 features)
- Storage: NVMe SSD (1 TB)
Assessment is based on real-world application including:
⦿ Weekly mini projects
⦿ Mid-point milestone with tutor/peer feedback
⦿ Final team-based Unreal Engine project
⦿ Deliverables: showreel, pitch deck, documentation
Assessment focuses on demonstrable competence, not simply theory. Work is reviewed by industry mentors, reflecting current hiring practices.
You will graduate with:
⦿ A completion certificate
⦿ An Unreal Engine showreel
⦿ A cinematic or interactive Unreal Engine project
⦿ CV and portfolio development
⦿ Employer referrals and application support
This reflects standard creative industry hiring practice, where output and tool proficiency matter more than academic awards.
We are committed to providing accessible and flexible support and provide multiple structured support pathways for any of our learners who may be struggling.
⦿ Catch up recordings are available for all online sessions and one-to-one meetings are available with instructors for missed in-person sessions.
⦿ We provide empathy-led mentoring to build confidence and resilience.
⦿ We encourage peer-to-peer support from the outset to foster a sense of community, accountability, and shared experience.
⦿ We offer regular wellbeing workshops (e.g. imposter syndrome, confidence).
⦿ We also offer digital inclusion support, including equipment loans and 1:1 onboarding support.
⦿ We can offer reduced pace options and flexible learning schedules dependent on your needs.
All of our staff are trained in neuroinclusive and trauma-informed practices and are on-hand to support you at any time. We recognise that every learner is different and are committed to providing you with a tailored approach dependent on your needs.
If you have any further access needs please get in touch with us and tell us what is required – creativeengine@in4group.co.uk
We will update this section as soon as this is confirmed. We expect this to be confirmed in the next week or so.
A key part of The Creative Engine is also supporting learners in finding their next role, through a comprehensive programme including tailored introductions, CV support, business planning and mock interviews.
Please reach out to us on creativeengine@in4group.co.uk or submit an application and we will answer any questions during the recruitment process.
