Apprenticeship Programme at The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)

Pictured Alex Jackson, RSC Automation Technician Grade 2 and Kate Bradley, RSC Apprentice Automation
Photograph by Sara Beaumont (c) RSC

This week is National Apprenticeship Week 2024 (5 to 11 February) and The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) reports a record number of apprentices.

Working in partnership as part of its UK wide Apprenticeship Programme with regional training providers: namely, Solihull College & University Centre; Stratford-upon-Avon College and Chichester College, the RSC pledged to recruit 28 apprentices and trainees by the Spring of 2024.

RSC apprenticeships and traineeships are for those who want to pursue a career in theatre, taking a work-based path and offering the opportunity to gain Level 2 (equivalent to GCSE grade A*-C/9-4) and/or Level 3 qualifications (equivalent to an A Level; and include: Customer Services; Venue Management; Scenic Carpentry; Scenic Engineering; Catering; Costume; Prop making; Finance; Data Improvements and Maintenance Engineering. Whilst training and earning a salary apprentices study for a professional qualification with all coursework time included in their contracted hours. On average, apprentices spend around 80% of their time at the RSC and 20% with their training provider.

“Apprenticeships are an important lever in ensuring the arts and cultural sector is representative of the society we live in. In broadening industry representation, we know that lack of talent and potential is not the issue, but lack of opportunity and lack of awareness is. We need a consistent and confident message to flow through formal and higher education that careers in the arts and creative industries exist, and that there are inclusive pathways into them for young people. We need local and national policy makers to recognize that the skills we develop through arts subjects and disciplines are transferable to any other career pathway we might want to embark on; providing skills for both life and for work.

At the RSC, we are committed to our role as a Teaching Theatre – a learning organization that invests in, supports and trains current and future generations of theatre artists and professionals to build a stronger, fairer and more diverse arts sector.” Jacqui O’Hanlon, Director of Creative Learning and Engagement, RSC.

Jessie Humby in the Costume Department of The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
Photograph by Sara Beaumont (c) RSC

"I really like coming in every day and finding out what I'm going to be doing because it's different all the time. Some things can be challenging but I get to learn new skills and put them into practice, and then see them on stage. There is so much that I can learn from this experience and develop my skills." Jessie Humby, Apprentice Costume Maker, RSC.

Note: The expansion of the RSC’s Apprenticeship Programme has been made possible by the generous support of Garfield Weston Foundation, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Mackintosh Foundation.

For further information visit https://www.rsc.org.uk/jobs/where-do-i-fit-in/apprenticeships

References

RSC Press Release RSC RECRUITS RECORD NUMBER OF APPRENTICES (05 Feb 2024)