Workforce Development: entry routes, skills and training

• A Best Practice Guide to Apprenticeships, Internships and Volunteering: Written for employers by Creative & Cultural Skills
• A Managers Guide to Apprenticeships: Written for creative industry employers by Creative & Cultural Skills
• Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Levy FAQ: Produced by SOLT and UK Theatre in partnership with Creative & Cultural Skills
• Employer Guide to Apprenticeships: A government guide for employers by the National Apprenticeship Service
• Introduction to Apprenticeships: A recorded webinar giving an overview of what an apprenticeship is, how it works, and the direct benefits to your organisation
• National College Creative Industries: Provides guidance on hosting an apprentice, including an employer support pack, as well as information for both apprentice levy paying organisations and non-levy paying organisations
• Six reasons why you should hire an apprentice: An article from the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR), with additional information about apprenticeships in the ticketing industry

There are a variety of training and employment routes into the theatre and performing arts workforce. These include apprenticeships, internships, work experience, volunteering and T Levels. For a one page overview of the different entry routes, please download our Understanding Entry Routes Guide.

• Best Practice Recruitment Guide for Creative Leaders: Written for employers by Creative & Cultural Skills. Pages 7-18 explain in detail the difference between various entry routes from an employer's perspective
• Entry Routes: A Brief Guide for Theatres: Produced by SOLT and UK Theatre in partnership with Creative & Cultural Skills
• Stage One: A charity that supports new producers entering the industry through educational programmes and investment schemes. Its scope includes paid placements in theatres and production companies across the UK, busaries for independent producers, mentoring opportunities, facilitated workshops and a dedicated 12 month programme for under-represented producers. If you would be interested in hosting a trainee producer for a 12 month, fully funded placement, please email Programme Director, Louise Goodman. 

Careers fairs are a fantastic way for theatre employers to reach a large number of prospective workers in one go and promote and raise awareness of the variety of theatre careers available. SOLT and UK Theatre are involved in the careers fairs listed below and can help you exhibit.

TheatreCraft

TheatreCraft is the UK's largest free theatre careers event. It is for anyone aged 16-30 seeking an off stage role in theatre and the performing arts. The event features panel talks, workshops and an exhibitor marketplace. SOLT and UK Theatre members are guaranteed an exhibitor place at TheatreCraft; please contact Siobhan Walsh for more information about this. 

TheatreCraft is project managed by SOLT and UK Theatre and run in partnership with Masterclass, Mousetrap Theatre Projects and the Royal Opera House. The event is sponsored by White Light.

Big Bang Fair

The Big Bang Fair is a 3 day careers event specifically for young people interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. We believe theatre employer attendance at this careers fair is a great opportunity to inspire young people who may not have thought of theatre as a natural career choice for their skillsets.  SOLT and UK Theatre coordinate a theatre industry stand at the Big Bang Fair, in partnership with the National Theatre. If you'd like to be involved, please email our Outreach Leader, Siobhan Walsh

The following initiatives and programmes have been developed to showcase the range of roles available in theatre and the performing arts, promote theatre careers and inspire young people.

Creative Careers Programme

The Creative Careers Programme is a government funded, industry-led programme to inform and inspire young people about careers in the creative industries. Its aim is to ensure there is a larger and more diverse intake of talent and a broader range of routes into the creative industries.

The programme includes:

• Discover! Creative Careers website, a one-stop-shop bringing together careers information and opportunities from across the creative industries for young people, teachers, parents and guardians (theatre information is fed into this website from Get into Theatre)
• Discover! Creative Careers Week, a week of immersive events and work experience opportunities
• Partnership with the Speakers for Schools programme to bring creative industry employers to school assemblies

Get into Theatre

Get into Theatre is the UK’s leading theatre careers website for young people and their teachers, parents and guardians. It is an online resource of theatre careers information, including educational and professional training requirements, practical information, opportunities and tools for accessing the wide variety of onstage and offstage careers available in the theatre industry. 

It also aims to undertake outreach activities working with schools and colleges across the UK to reach, inform and encourage all aspiring young theatre talent, especially targeting those from backgrounds currently under-represented in theatre.

Theatre employers can use Get into Theatre to list training, outreach or funding opportunities (not jobs) by signing up here. For more information about Get into Theatre, please contact its Director, Ahmet Ahmet. 

Inspiring Future Theatre

Inspiring Future Theatre is a wide-reaching industry initiative which aims to showcase the range of careers available in theatre. We have partnered with Education & Employers to connect theatre workers with their local schools. The scheme has two parts:

• Inspiring Future Theatre Ambassadors: the ambassadors programme encourages off-stage theatre workers of any profession or experience to sign up to Education & Employers' volunteer database. This enables your local schools to invite you to careers events, fairs, or workshops they may be holding to hear about your job. Signing up as a volunteer does not commit you to attending events - you are free to accept or decline as you wish.
• Inspiring Future Theatre Day: an annual social media campaign which encourages theatre employers to showcase the range of roles available at their organisation, and theatre workers to share why they love working in theatre and what inspired them to, using the hashtag #InspiringFutureTheatre. In previous years we have also held an in-person event on this day for schools to attend behind the scenes workshops focusing on offstage roles.

For more information about Inspiring Future Theatre, please contact our Outreach Leader, Siobhan Walsh. 

London Theatre Young Audiences Forum

This forum aims to build a bridge between London theatres and young audiences by understanding the needs and wants of both groups. Following industry meetings, the group will share research and finding, make recommendations and advocate for the mutually beneficial relationship between theatres and young people.

Forum members are made up of participation, membership or audience development professionals working within London theatre organisations. The current steering committee is made from representatives from SOLT/UK Theatre, Mousetrap Theatre Projects, Disney Theatricals and ATG.

For more information or to join the LTYA Forum, please contact our Outreach Leader, Siobhan Walsh.