ATG Expands Technical Apprenticeship Programme

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), the world's number one live-theatre company, will expand its groundbreaking Technical Apprenticeship programme to more theatres this September, following a successful pilot year.

The programme began with four apprenticeships employed from September 2013 to August 2014. With continued support from the Creative Employment Programme with Arts Council England Lottery funding, the programme will now double in size for 2014-15 with eight new apprenticeships from September 2014, each lasting one year.

Each Apprentice Theatre Technician will be based at one of ATG's renowned regional presenting theatres: New Victoria Theatre Woking, Richmond Theatre, New Wimbledon Theatre, Churchill Theatre Bromley, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, New Theatre Oxford, Regent Theatre Stoke-on-Trent and Milton Keynes Theatre.

John Young, Head of Technical Services for ATG, said: "We are very proud to be expanding our Technical Apprenticeship programme for 2014-15. The scheme has been a great success in its pilot year and hugely rewarding for the apprentices, their mentors, their work colleagues and the business. The programme promotes pride in personal development which is infectious - and comes at a time when pegging competence is a major industry objective."

Tamykha Paterson, Technical Theatre Apprentice 2013-14, said: "I really enjoy my apprenticeship and learn something new every day. I have great people around me who take time out to teach and explain things to me. As an individual I have built self-confidence, communication skills and knowledge within technical theatre. I look forward to taking the first professional steps on my career path and putting in place all that I have learnt over the year."

The programme has been developed in partnership with North Hertfordshire College, White Light Ltd, Fairfield Hall and the Association of British Theatre Technicians, who have worked together with an initial cohort of apprentices this year and will develop the partnership for 2014-15.

Earlier this year, the partnership won a prestigious award for Best Collaboration between Industry and Education at the Creative & Cultural Skills Conference. The ATG apprentices will benefit from training and work experience with the partner organisations as well as with ATG, reflecting industry practice in the comprehensive partnership working that already exists in this field.

The eight new Apprentice Theatre Technicians will have access to world class opportunities, using the most up to date equipment and techniques not available in colleges or universities. Throughout the year, they will gain the EDI Level 2 Certificate in Technical Theatre Support, as well as the ABTT Bronze Award, and the assessment criteria for this qualification will form the backbone of practical assessment to be woven throughout the full programme.

Nick Potter, Managing Director (Venues) for ATG, said: "We are delighted to be expanding our leading apprenticeship programme, at the heart of our business. This will provide more great opportunities for future employees to benefit from practical, live learning, and to gain knowledge from our experienced technical teams across the UK."