Natalie Brotherton, Gabrielle Felix-Daramy, Daniel Goodwin and Danielle Morris all took the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience in the world of entertainment lighting by working within White Light. Starting with preparing cables then moving on through White Light's rigging and bench teams the apprentices have been learning the 'nuts and bolts' of entertainment lighting. The plan, in time, is for all four to work in every area of the company's warehouse, helping to prepare equipment for the more than 3,000 projects White Light is involved with each year while learning from the company's highly experienced staff.
Their work is by no means limited to time spent in the warehouse though. All four have helped freelancers prepare shows, assisted with setting up the expansive White Light Zone at PLASA 2011, worked with the technical service team at London's South Bank Centre and have headed out to work on shows including Love Never Dies and Dirty Dancing.
They have also helped with White Light Events such as lighting the recent Sculpture event at High House Production Park in Purfleet, taking part in the pre-event recce then working with project manager Richard Saunders to implement a design that incorporated the HyLight500 hydrogen fuel cell lighting system and other lighting effects. Through all of that, they still find time to attend Lewisham College once a week to study for a Creative and Cultural Industries qualification.
All four are greatly enjoying the experience. "White Light is a friendly place to work," says Daniel Goodwin. "I am allowed to make a mistake but then I learn from it. In some cases I already knew how to do things, but now I know why I am doing them." Gabrielle Felix-Daramy adds, "We learn how to do things properly."
In some cases, working in lighting is a new found aspiration as a result of the apprenticeship. Danielle Morris originally wanted to be a stage manager, but her time at White Light has refocused her towards the possibilities of production lighting.
White Light project manager Richard Saunders was thrilled with the final result of the sculpture launch. "The collaboration with the apprentices was fantastic. The fact that they decided to approach the design of the five sculptures as a team rather than taking them on individually showed a maturity which was reflected in the high quality lighting design of the event."
"White Light has a long-standing tradition of employing school leavers who then work their way through the company," Bryan Raven, White Light's managing director notes. "Several of our longest serving employees joined us when we were still based in Fulham, and they're still here today. The apprenticeship scheme is a simple extension of that policy, and a true use of the word rather than the television apprentices people now tend to think of."
"I have always been interested in bringing new people into our business," adds Chris Nicholls, operations director. "Apprentices bring an enthusiasm and willingness to learn, coupled with a motivation and dedication that is contagious and has a beneficial effect on other staff - It really does rub off! With our apprentices we can create technicians with exactly the right skills, knowledge and attitude that our industry requires. If they go off and become freelance technicians they will work the way we do, so they become the customers we want to work with in the future. I would happily take on four new apprentices a year."
(Jim Evans)
