This building will enhance the nationwide activity of a National Skills Academy which is currently delivering through 19 founder Further Education Colleges across the country working in partnership with over 170 employers.
Welcoming the announcement, Tom Bewick, Group Chief Executive, Creative & Cultural Skills, said:"The National Skills Academy is fundamentally important to a live performance sector that generates over £6 billion per year for the UK economy. Initially it will provide world class training in the technical theatre and live music production industries, enabling young people to learn from established professionals ranging from backstage theatre experts to tour promoters and bands. Over time, the NSA will cover the creative and cultural industries represented by the sector skills council. It's fantastic that after a huge amount of perseverance and hard work by all those involved this funding has now been secured. It marks an important milestone in achieving the full costs of the building."
As an employer led initiative the academy will provide training that is vitally important to the backstage theatre and live events industries. By 2017 it is estimated that there will be a need for 30,000 technicians. The academy will help ensure theatres, music venues and festival organisers have the workforce they need to continue growing and making a major contribution to the UK economy.
The state-of-the-art academy will be in Thurrock in the Thames Gateway. It is expected to create 1,000 jobs and make a major contribution to regeneration in the area. The building is expected to be completed by 2011.
(Lee Baldock)
