Apprentice & internship schemes honoured at awards

An innovative apprenticeship scheme has won Telford & Wrekin Council the title of Creative & Cultural Employer of the Year at this year’s Creative & Cultural Skills awards. The council’s scheme was launched last year, providing four apprenticeships in event management, theatre technician and community arts. Delivered with the council’s partner arts organisations, the personalised placements incorporated a support package that included mentoring, training and volunteering opportunities. The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) was awarded the prize for Best Collaboration between Industry and Education for its scheme developed with North Hertfordshire College, White Light Ltd, Fairfield Halls and the Association of British Theatre Technicians. Four apprentices work at ATG theatres for a year, while gaining EDI Level 2 Certificates in Technical Theatre Support. The Innovative Approaches Award was won by London Theatre Consortium for its young person led recruitment campaign, which aims to support hard to reach young people. All the schemes were supported by the Creative and Cultural Skills Creative Employment Programme, a £15m Arts Council England Lottery-funded initiative that supports new opportunities for unemployed young people aged 16-24.