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Creative opportunities for young people

A number of websites offer advice and guidance on vocational learning opportunities. If you have a rough idea of the type of industry you would like to work in, then check out the career pathways sites of the Sector Skills Councils listed below. These provide more specific information of what its like to work in various cultural industries and what you can expect in terms of career progression and further opportunities.

The more general websites below give information about apprenticeships and vocational learning.

Vocational Learning
http://www.vocationallearning.org.uk/regions/networks/

This site is for teachers and lecturers, students, parents and employers who want to find out more about vocational learning across the country. It includes a searchable database for courses by subject area and level, region by region.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships introduce learning to a work-based environment, meaning the learner can get paid for what they do. It combines the hands-on experience of working with a qualification.
www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Creative Apprenticeships
Creative and Cultural Skills (the Sector Skills Council for advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, performing, literary and visual arts) is currently working on pilots in London and Scotland for a new ґcreative apprenticeship programme. If successful, CCSkills hope to roll out the programme across the UK.*

*Currently these industries suffer from the lack of apprentices because very limited opportunities exist for employers or sole traders to access a flexible approach to learning or secure public support. That is why CCSkills is leading this pilot project, to provide work-based routes into the creative and cultural sector. For further information on pathways into this sector go to:
http://www.ccskills.org.uk/media/cms/File/pathways_map_A4.pdf

New Entrants to the Audio-Visual Industry 

Skillset (the Sector Skills Council for the Audio-Visual Industries) supports new entrants through qualifications support and careers advice for those just starting out in the industry. New Entrants Schemes are long-term training programmes designed to give talented people a thorough understanding of what itҒs like to work in the media industry, and get them started in the right career. Skillset supports a number of these schemes across the UK, which combine short course training with industry work placements and assessment to get your qualifications.
http://www.skillset.org/training/newentrants/  

For a list of other new entrants schemes for the audio-visual industry not funded by Skillset (but including the BBC, Channel 4 and ITN) see http://www.skillset.org/training/newentrants/article_46_1.asp

Young apprenticeships
This is a new route at Key Stage 4 (14-16) which allows motivated and able pupils to study for vocational qualifications not just in the classroom but in college, with training providers and in the workplace too. Young apprenticeships offer pupils the chance to gain a taste of real workђ in a supported way, and lay the foundations for a post-16 apprenticeship whilst retaining the full range of options for future training or study. Young Apprenticeships are available in art and design, performing arts, hospitality and sport management, leadership and coaching.
http://www.vocationallearning.org.uk/YoungApprenticeships/

Career pathways
Several sites are available to help you understand the roles and occupations available in the creative and cultural industries. The Lifelong Learning Networks are currently developing county-level progression routes and guidance and are an excellent resource. But also refer to:
Careers in sport and leisure
http://www.skillsactive.com/careers/your_career/your_career.html
Careers in IT and telecoms
http://www.e-skills.com/Careers-Site/339
Careers in hospitality and tourism
http://www.people1st.co.uk/career-guide
Careers in advertising
http://www.ccskills.org.uk/industries/advertising.asp
see also Institute of Practitioners in Advertising
www.ipa.co.uk
Careers in crafts
http://www.ccskills.org.uk/industries/crafts.asp
see also Crafts Council
www.craftscouncil.org.uk

Careers in cultural heritage
http://www.ccskills.org.uk/industries/cultural_heritage.asp
see also:
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
www.mla.gov.uk
Museums Association
www.museumsassociation.org
The Institute of Conservation
www.icon.org.uk
The Institute of Field Archaeologists
www.archaeologists.net
Museum Documentation Association
www.mda.org.uk

Careers in design
http://www.ccskills.org.uk/industries/design.asp
see also:
Design Council
www.design-council.org.uk
Design Business Association
www.dba.org.uk
British Design & Art Direction
www.dandad.co.uk
The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
www.rsa.org.uk
The Society for Professional Designers
www.csd.org.uk
British Design Innovation
www.britishdesign.co.uk

Careers in music
http://www.ccskills.org.uk/industries/music.asp
see also: Music Industries Association
www.mia.org.uk

Careers in performing, visual and literary arts
http://www.ccskills.org.uk/industries/performing.asp
see also:
Arts Council England
www.artscouncil.org.uk
Equity (Actors Guild)
www.equity.org.uk
Creative People (Professional Development for Arts & Crafts)
www.creativepeople.org.uk
The Independent Theatre Council
www.itc-arts.org
National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts
www.nesta.org.uk
Theatrical Management Association
www.tmauk.org
National Council for Drama Training
www.ncdt.co.uk
Council for Dance Education and Training
www.cdet.org.uk
Professional Lighting and Sound Association
www.plasa.org
Careers in the audio-visual industries
http://www.skillset.org/careers/ 
Careers in journalism

National Council for the Training of Journalists
http://www.nctj.com/ 

Broadcast Journalism Training Council
http://www.bjtc.org.uk/ 

LearnDirect also have a series of career profiles in arts, craft and design; information technology and information management; performing arts, broadcasting and media; publishing and journalism; and, sport, leisure and tourism, which may prove of interest.
http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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