Major employers in the theatre, live music and events industries already report serious difficulties recruiting qualified and experienced professionals in a wide range of disciplines including lighting, sound, stage controls and specialist backstage support staff.
Since January 2007, more than 300 individuals and organisations - including employers, trade bodies and freelancers - have been consulted on the Skills Academy proposal being developed by Creative & Cultural Skills, the industry-led Sector Skills Council, to address skills shortages in live music and the performing arts.
The consultation has revealed widespread enthusiasm in both industries for a national training network that will see employers partnering with approved colleges and training providers to deliver skills in the workplace to industry-approved standards. It will provide training both for new entrants and experienced professionals seeking to develop their careers or have their existing skills formally recognised.
Qualifications offered will include the new Creative Apprenticeship being developed by Creative & Cultural Skills with specialist "pathways" including technical theatre, live events and promotion and music business skills. Other qualifications will be developed in direct response to industry needs. It is hoped the Skills Academy will be training up to 2,000 people annually from 2009.
"What's important about the National Skills Academy is that it will create for the first time a strategic, nationwide training framework," says Adrian Vinken, chief executive of Theatre Royal, Plymouth and a member of the project steering group. "That means it can meet the needs of individual employers at the local and regional level while also ensuring that training is of the very highest standard and informed by the latest developments in technology and best practice across the industry."
"It's fair to say that live music and the performing arts have until now been worlds apart," adds Rob Ballantine of music promoters SJM Concerts - who've worked with artists including Coldplay, Robbie Williams, and Radiohead. "The Academy consultation process has shown that when it comes to skills we actually have a great deal in common - not least an increasingly urgent need to act now so we can count on having the right people in future. The alternative is to risk missing out on the commercial and creative rewards of a flourishing live entertainment sector."
The results of the consultation process are being used to inform the detailed business plan that will be submitted to ministers by Creative & Cultural Skills later this month. If approved, the government will provide £7 million towards the project estimated £10 million start up costs.
Co-chaired by Feargal Sharkey and Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House, the project is supported by an unprecedented array of major employers and trade bodies from live music and the performing arts.
During the consultation process Creative & Cultural Skills spoke to venues, touring companies, concert promoters, festivals, theatres, opera and ballet companies - together with influential representative bodies including BECTU, Equity, Musicians' Union, SOLT/TMA and PLASA.
"We have a lot of talented people in our industry, and to safeguard its future we need to consolidate that and attract further skilled individuals into the sector," says Matthew Griffiths of PLASA. "The UK - and our members in particular - are at the heart of the global creative skills indust
