UK - Production Futures has announced that its next On Tour event will take place at the AO Arena, Manchester on Monday 28 April. The venue is one of the largest of its kind in the UK, and will host a Production Futures event for the second time, following the success of last year’s arena debut.
Set to attract a wide range of young people from across North-West England and beyond, this free-of-charge event will promote employability, transferable skills, diversity, free training, networking, and will present paid work opportunities to newcomers across the live event and broadcast production industry.
Manufacturers, supply and production companies, venues and distributors will have representatives present at the event to provide advice, information and insights, and discuss specific job and training opportunities. Production Futures also works closely with a range of organisations, initiatives, education partners and associations, connecting employment and training opportunities to a diverse pool of talent. They too will have representatives available to answer questions and offer support.
Visitors will enjoy a packed schedule, which includes special guests, talks and panels, while industry workshops will offer young visitors the chance to engage in a wide range of activities, from preparing to be job-ready with CV guidance, to hands-on exploration of lighting programming, CAD, audio engineering, stage design, as well as getting under the skin of music, touring and festival production, virtual production, and event logistics and planning.
Production Futures CEO Hannah Eakins is looking forward to the day: “Last year’s On Tour event at the AO Arena was an incredibly inspiring experience for everyone in attendance. The venue represents everything that is great about our industry, and we are grateful to its team for their continued support.
“The contribution of the production industries to the UK economy is significant. Many young people are simply unaware of the variety of opportunities that fall under the umbrella of the production sector, and our aim is to increase the visibility of these opportunities, and by doing so, improve the prospects of the whole industry. We do everything we possibly can at our On Tour events to highlight the wide range of rewarding and creative careers available to the next generation.”
A spokesperson for the AO Arena adds: "The AO Arena is so excited to welcome back Production Futures after last year’s incredible debut. As a venue, we recognise the importance and value of supporting young professionals who are eager to break into the world of live events and production. Working alongside Production Futures allows us to give the people of Manchester and beyond invaluable opportunities to learn, network, and gain hands-on experience, and we can’t wait to see the future stars of the industry take their first steps right here at AO Arena!"
