All the world’s a stage for Emily as she becomes Stoke-on-Trent’s first theatre apprentice
A Stoke-on-Trent teenager has become a theatre group’s first creative apprentice.
Emily Dulson has chosen to take up an apprenticeship with the Regent Theatre and Victoria Hall in preference to studying drama at university.
Now young people from across North Staffordshire will be encouraged to follow Emily into a creative apprenticeship with local employers from arts venues to graphic design companies and film makers.
“I’m very excited to be given this opportunity,” said Emily, 18. from Trent Vale. “I was going to go to university but decided I wanted a more hands on route which led me to get this apprenticeship through Stoke on Trent College.
Emily was attending the Talent on Trent event at the Mitchell Arts Centre together with Mike Keane, General Manager of the Regent Theatre and Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent.
Talent on Trent is a new initiative aimed at getting North Staffordshire businesses to think about employing a creative apprentice.
Speaking to an audience of local companies, Mike Keane said that the decision to employ Emily made economic sense for the theatre group as well as providing a route into work for a local young person.
“Emily will play a hands-on role and we will encourage her to take on responsibilities. This means that we get real value for money from our investment in the apprenticeship scheme and I am also really excited to see how Emily’s skills develop,” said Mike.
“She will work on theatre events including the return of Stoke’s Top Talent, promoting the event and organising audition days.
“We could not run this event last year because we didn’t have someone like Emily working with us.”
During the next 12 months Emily will experience a variety of theatre roles including work with the stage crew and event marketing and promotion.
Talent on Trent is a joint initiative between Stoke on Trent College and The National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural, working with West Midlands based arts organisation Creative Alliance. The event was supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Charles Bartholomew, Assistant Director of Media and Performing Arts said: “Stoke on Trent College runs apprenticeships across a wide range of creative work areas such as performing arts, web design or photography.
“Employing an apprentice has many advantages. Research shows that customers are more likely to choose a company which has the foresight to employ apprentices and that apprentices are likely to give years of loyal service to the company which gave them a chance.
“Companies also benefit from an injection of new ideas and enthusiasm from their new apprentices.”
Stoke on Trent College is affiliated to the major training bodies for the arts in the UK - the British Youth Film Academy and Access to Music, and a Founder College of the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural.
For more information visit www.stokecollege.ac.uk or join us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/StokeonTrentCollege
