Stratford-upon-Avon College is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2011 and has recently discovered that their latest enrolment is the 500th Creative Apprentice in the UK!
Creative Apprenticeships are a brand new alternative route into the creative industries. They offer a mix of on-the-job and off-the-job training where young people have the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge and attain qualifications whilst doing so. These qualifications are designed and approved by industry. The on-the-job component allows young people to break the vicious circle of ‘no experience equals no job’. The Creative Apprenticeship consists of a vocational qualification at Level 2 or 3 and a theory based qualification at Level 2 or 3.
The 500th Creative Apprentice at Birmingham Hippodrome is a significant signpost that the creative and cultural sector is warming up to the idea of taking on apprentices. In other areas such as catering, construction and engineering there is a history of apprenticeships, but this is very new to the creative and cultural sector.
Over recent years Stratford-upon-Avon College has developed a special relationship with Birmingham Hippodrome and both organisations are working together to deliver education and training to young people who have recently embarked on a career in the creative and cultural sector.
Edward Pinner, Curriculum Area Manager for Performing Arts & Music, commented, “We are delighted that we have such a strong relationship with Birmingham Hippodrome and the enrolment of the 500th Creative Apprentice is a major milestone. The concept of a Creative Apprentice is a relatively new one and Birmingham Hippodrome is demonstrating tremendous commitment to their workforce by ensuring their staff not only acquire the skills they need, they will also achieve a nationally-recognised qualification.
“We are in the process of having discussions with other local employers in the creative and cultural sector and are keen to engage with museums, arts venues, recording studios and community arts organisations who may be interested in taking on a creative apprentice or offer a creative apprenticeship to their existing staff.”
Glen Ivison, HR Manager Birmingham Hippodrome says: “Birmingham Hippodrome is delighted to welcome the 500th creative apprentice into our business. The apprentice will shortly commence on our new apprenticeship in Technical Theatre (Rigging, Lighting and Sound). We have greatly expanded our scheme since launching apprenticeships 18 months ago and currently have 5 apprentices at the theatre. We very much look forward to working with Stratford-upon-Avon College in the future and to further developing and expanding our work-based training .”
Pauline Tambling, Managing Director, National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural says: “We’re so pleased that Apprenticeships in the creative and cultural industries are taking off – it is wonderful to see the great results and positive responses from employers. I’m thrilled that Birmingham Hippodrome has had such a positive experience of hiring an Apprentice and look forward to hearing how they progress in what I hope will be a varied and exciting career in the industry”.
Different entry routes into the sector are an important progression for the creative and cultural industries and during Apprenticeship Week, the National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural will be talking to employers across the country about their Apprenticeship Training Service (ATS), a service which demystifies Apprenticeships for employers and supports them to recruit one. Employers in the area are being encouraged to contact the ATS during Apprenticeship Week, to discuss the many options available to them.
If you would like more information, please contact marketing@stratford.ac.uk|.
Note to Editors
The National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural was established in 2008 with the initial aim of putting employers within the offstage industries of technical theatre and live music event production in control of their training needs; what trainees learn, how they learn and where.
The Skills Academy operates as an industry-led membership organisation, developing the delivery of industry approved standards, training and related skills through its network of creative and cultural employers and education and training providers.
Please visit www.nsa-ccskills.co.uk| for further information
Stratford-upon-Avon College offers a range of Creative Apprenticeships in:
For more information visit www.stratford.ac.uk|
Posted on Monday 7th February 2011