National Skills Academy Wins Final Approval

Creative & Cultural Skills is delighted to announce final Government approval of its bid to build a National Skills Academy: a £15 million project that will help to significantly reduce skills gaps and shortages in backstage and off-stage skills UK-wide.

The NSA business plan, supported by over 120 leading employers from theatre and live music, sets out in detail an ambitious vision to provide world-class training for the world's greatest stages.   Working together with employers, freelancers, colleges and training-providers throughout the country, the NSA will deliver industry-endorsed training for young people and professionals.  A proposed new state-of-the-art training facility in Thurrock, Thames Gateway will provide a national centre, rehearsal and administrative space to showcase the industry.

Announcing the decision by Government, Minister for Skills, David Lammy MP said:

Our creative industries play a vital role in the cultural and economic well-being of our country.  I am proud to announce the creation of the National Skills Academy, which will not only give a vital boost to the skills and careers prospects of talented young people, but keep the UK at the cutting edge internationally.

Welcoming the announcement, Tony Hall CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, Chair of Creative & Cultural Skills and Co-Chair of the NSA steering group said:

This is brilliant news for all those many people who have campaigned to make the National Skills Academy for music and the performing arts a reality. By the Olympics, we would have had a major shortage of skilled backstage skilled workers.  But with today’s announcement, we can tackle that problem right away and start giving opportunities to lots of people.

Also welcoming the go-ahead, Feargal Sharkey, Chief Executive of British Music Rights, former lead singer of the Undertones and Co-Chair of the NSA steering group said:

This is a longed-for announcement and will hopefully ensure our stages – from Glastonbury to Glyndebourne, from the Eden Project in Cornwall to the Sage Gateshead – are crewed and managed by the right people in years to come.

Anthony Sargent, General Director of Sage Gateshead said:

The international admiration for Britain's cultural achievements, and our ever more discriminating audiences at home, constantly raise our own ambitions for our work – always aiming higher and setting ourselves more demanding goals.  The quality and quantity of our training play an absolutely critical role in that dynamic, and it is terrific news that the National Skills Academy now has its final green light – quite simply it will transform our capacity to provide the training needed to meet tomorrow’s needs and challenges.

Culture Minister Margaret Hodge MP said:

Skills are the lifeblood of performing arts and music.  The high-quality and relevant training provided by the Creative & Cultural National Skills Academy will ensure everyone has access to the opportunities they need to become part of our flourishing creative industries.

Tom Bewick, Chief Executive of Creative & Cultural Skills, said:

I'm delighted that the government has finally given the green light to our National Skills Academy. This process has forged an unprecedented alliance of employers and providers who are coming together in every part of the country to plug the estimated 30,000 skills shortage in backstage and offstage skills. The NSA will take its place among a 12 strong network of other academies, addressing skills gaps in key sectors of the economy.

It's a fantastic achievement that the creative and cultural sectors, represented by Creative & Cultural Skills, have won recognition from government as being strategically important for the future. The task now is to maintain momentum and get building! We plan to do this by establishing the NSA as quickly as possible as a distinct and independent entity, a wholly owned subsidiary of Creative & Cultural Skills and therefore led and owned by industry. I'd like to thank everyone who has made this very positive announcement possible.