Welcome to our online gateway to course information for members working in the Theatre & Live Events sectors. There are also plenty of useful links for our members working in community media, theatre and education.
New Entrant Training
Like the rest of the creative sector, entry to theatre and live events can be informal and dependent on networks rather than merit and skill. As with other parts of the creative industries this can lead to exploitation and unpaid 'work experience'. However, a great deal is being done to begin to address this, including new apprenticeship frameworks and a code of practice dealing with new entrant training and development.
Creative & Cultural skills (CCSkills) manage a Creative Apprenticeship project and an extensive programme of general apprenticeships (accounting, cyustomer service etc.) has been developed by the NSA Apprentice Training Company . Both are part of a wider national Apprenticeship programme in England. It is supported by the National Apprenticeship Service which funds and co-ordinates the delivery of all apprenticeships throughout England.
The National Apprenticeship Service funds and co-ordinates the delivery of all Apprenticeships throughout England. Skills Development Scotland support Apprenticeships in Scotland. The Welsh Assembly Government supports apprenticeships in Wales and in Northern Ireland they are supported by the Department for Employment and Learning.
KEY LINKS: Apprentices in Wales Founder College Network NSA appretniceship training service Get into Theatre
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
CPD is a broad term encompassing courses, workshops, work-based learning and anything that contributes to knowledge and skills. People who are employed should be able to access training and development with their employer but this can be inconsistent. Freelance and casual workers are often responsible for their own CPD including paying for it. A complex system of training has eveolved in the sector, with the result that training can be expensive and of variable quality, where it exists at all.The union's role is to help members overcome barriers to accessing training:
- High cost
- Available time
- quality and relevance of provision
The links on this site lead to course providers who are quality assured such as the small number of quality training poviders, some equipment suppliers, NSA Founder Colleges and the network of specialist higher education specialist colleges.
A key starting point for all enquiries is CCSkills which is the Sector Skills Council for the Creative sector including theatre, live events & rock and roll.
KEY LINKS: ITC (mainly management &admin) ABTT Training Founder College Network PLASA Skills Creative Choices Cultural Leadership Programme NSA training & events
Find courses here
