The National Skills Academy aims to significantly help to reduce skills gaps and shortages in backstage and off-stage skills. The NSA business plan, supported by PLASA and over 120 leading employers from theatre and live music, sets out in detail an ambitious vision to provide world-class training for the world's greatest stages. Working together with employers, freelancers, colleges and training-providers throughout the country, the NSA will deliver industry-endorsed training for young people and professionals. A proposed new state-of-the-art training facility in Thurrock, Thames Gateway, will provide a national centre, rehearsal and administrative space to showcase the industry.
PLASA, the Professional Lighting and Sound Association, is a project steering group board member of the NSA and sees this as a key development for the sector. When the scheme's approval was announced last month, Matthew Griffiths, CEO of PLASA, commented: "For the first time, employers will be able to influence the design and delivery of learning in this industry and will have a direct stake in the future development of industry skills. This is a significant development and PLASA and its members fully support the NSA."
Now, PLASA is following up on that promise of support by asking its membership to commit to donating equipment to the NSA to the value of £1m. Speaking at the PLASA AGM at the Hurlingham Club in London, Griffiths will explain how PLASA's close involvement with the NSA project steering group, chaired by Tony Hall of the Royal Opera House, has given PLASA members the opportunity to help equip the Academy - effectively providing the equipment and technology that the next generation of backstage technicians will be trained on.
Following on the heels of PLASA's landmark achievement of QCA Awarding Body status in April, the green light for the Skills Academy gives further weight to PLASA's position at the leading edge of industry training. Griffiths explained: "It also allows us to influence the training and specify the needs of our members and what we need from skills training in the coming years. It also provides a very practical route for the provision of PLASA-accredited courses in the future."
(Lee Baldock)
