Dan Kelly is a former student from Backstage Academy's first Foundation Degree in Live Events Production. He joined the industry training company, based in Wakefield, at the end of the course and has been touring schools and colleges to provide students with an insight into working backstage.
Said Kelly: "Working with schools and colleges is very important for the sustainability of the UK's live events industry. Most students I speak to are unaware of the career opportunities available to them and even less aware of how they can get into the industry and progress once they are in it.
"Through my experience of the Foundation Degree, being tutored by industry professionals, and working both in the LS-Live Studio on site at Backstage Academy and out on live events, I can pass on my knowledge about progression routes and how to make yourself more employable. I can give them my honest opinions and experiences of what I have done both at Backstage and within the industry."
Backstage Academy's director of courses Robin Watkinson said, "Dan was an exceptional student and gained a good breadth of work experience during the course in a variety of roles.
"The combination of his training and real on-the-job experience meant he was the perfect candidate to take on a full-time role at Backstage Academy and provide an unbiased view to young people about working backstage, and what it's like studying here."
Backstage Academy is introducing a one-year BA Top-Up Live Events Production course in September this year and a new BA Visual Production in January 2014 (subject to validation).
(Jim Evans)
