Sarah Brewster
Fresh Seed
Sarah Brewster is founder of Fresh Seed, a People & Culture consultancy to the Creative Sector with a wide reaching roster of clients across the sector from Games, to TV and the Arts and much more. As an Organisation Psychologist Sarah recognised a gap between small businesses and culture. The hustle hard, grow fast ethos of the industry has often overlooked the talent within and so Sarah founded Fresh Seed to give the people at the heart of it the best support possible.
Fresh Seed specialises in transforming workplaces into thriving, people-first environments. The team goes beyond traditional HR, offering down-to-earth, honest advice across all aspects of People & Culture. Their approach is holistic, drawing on positive psychology, strengths-based strategies, and best practice to ensure employees connected to the organisation’s vision, enjoy their work, and perform at their best.
Sarah Brewster is speaking at the following session/s
WorkWise for Screen: Fair Play at Work
WorkWise for Screen supports employers and hirers in the games industry with expert guidance on UK employment law, HR best practice and people management.
The UK games industry is at a crossroads. Studio closures and mass layoffs have flooded the market with senior talent, while entry-level roles are more competitive than ever. Amid the upheaval, one thing remains: the creativity, passion, and skill that drive this industry forward.
As new studios launch and existing teams fight to stay afloat, leadership must build strong, legally sound and sustainable workplaces - fit for the long haul.
The games industry has long attracted neurodivergent talent, yet many studios still fall short on equitable hiring, contracts, and workplace support. Employment tribunal cases around discrimination and neurodiversity are rising - so how can leaders ensure their practices are both compliant and genuinely inclusive?
In this interview-led session, industry experts share crucial insights on:
Recruitment – how to avoid bias, attract top talent, and ensure a transparent and inclusive selection process.
Contracts and compliance – key legal considerations when hiring employees, contractors or freelancers, including key legal responsibilities around neurodiversity and reasonable adjustments
Workplace and culture – how to lead effectively, support neurodivergent employees, avoid common HR pitfalls and foster a resilient, inclusive team
Whether you’re building the next generation of studios or working to keep yours standing, this session will equip you with the tools to lead fairly, safely and well.
After the session and throughout Develop, visit the WorkWise for Screen stand for one-to-one meetings with legal and HR experts offering tailored advice.
Moderator: Jonas Gawe
Session Takeaway
- What effective leadership looks like in uncertain times - especially when supporting diverse teams
- How to hire fairly and avoid bias-driven selection mistakes, including barriers faced by neurodivergent applicants
- How to protect your studio and your staff with legally robust contracts and inclusive workplace policies
- Why transparent, equitable practices give studios both a commercial advantage and legal protection
Session speakers
