A new partnership is putting young people centre stage to give them a start in the creative industries.
 
Two of the city’s leading arts organisations Opera North and Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House Ltd are among the first employers in the region to take on full-time Creative&Cultural apprentices in partnership with Leeds City College.
 
The new creative and cultural apprenticeships will offer on the job training and the opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience as well as creating roles to encourage interest in the variety of areas in the creative industries.
 
Opera North has taken on a technical theatre apprentice who will work and train at the company’s professional venue, The Howard Assembly Room at The Grand Theatre, to gain specific on-the-job training in lighting, set up and operation of live sound reinforcement systems, basic rigging and AV systems.
 
Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House is also in the process of recruiting two apprentices to specialise in cultural heritage who will support the work of the in-house Learning Team in creating exhibitions and support tours, talks and workshops.
 
The new creative and cultural apprenticeships coincide with the launch of Leeds City College’s status as a Founder College of the National Skills Academy of Creative&Cultural.
 
The College, the UK’s third largest further education establishment, is unique in the region as part of a network of 20 FE colleges across the country, which are working to create strong links with local and national industry partners to provide students with an authentic learning environment.
 
Ken Reid, Head of Creative Arts at Leeds City College, said: “This is an important development in opening up some of the region’s great creative and cultural institutions to a young fresh workforce from a variety of backgrounds and skill-bases.”

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