The Young Apprenticeship (England)

Art, design, dance, music and drama are all part of the UK's creative and cultural industries. The number of people working in these industries is growing. Many of the entry routes to these careers are new and undefined.

What is the Young Apprenticeship?

The Young Apprenticeship is a programme that lets talented GCSE students gain work experience. Creative & Cultural Skills supports Young Apprenticeships in Art & Design and Performing Arts. The programme has been running since 2004, delivered by partnerships of schools, colleges and employers.

Pupils are based in school where they follow the core national curriculum subjects. For two days a week they work towards a Level 2 vocational qualification. They also have 50 days' work experience with employers.

This is an ideal way for employers to help open up new ways for young people to gain relevant work experience.

From September 2007, 9000 students will be on a Young Apprenticeship.

For more information please contact engagement@ccskills.org.uk

Young Apprentice of the Year

In 2007, 17-year-old Abbigail Kewin from Tyneside won the "Young Apprentice of the Year" award, presented by the Learning and Skills Council. She now has her sights firmly set on a career in advertising.

Abbigail was working towards an equivalent of 14 GCSEs at Tyne Metropolitan College. As part of the Art & Design Young Apprenticeship she spent time with two local employers - Blueprint Interior Design in Newcastle and creative agency Bgroup, where she helped to produce a logo for a new jewellery shop.

My Apprenticeship has been inspirational and helped me decide on a career in advertising. Completing the programme, on top of my other studies and interests, has been a great achievement and through my work with Bgroup I have made my first step into advertising

An employer's perspective

Mike Eccles is the coordinator of the Theatre by the Lake's New Directions team, whose education and outreach work involves the Cumberland Youth Theatre. He worked with Lakes College to offer Young Apprenticeships to students from Stainburn School and Science College, Workington. For this partnership, the Young Apprenticeship programme ran in parallel with GCSEs in Drama and Theatre Studies and BTEC First Certificates in Performing Arts (Acting).

Above all, we wanted to give a true picture of work in the performing arts. It's not a fame game, it's quite hard work. College students often want to be famous, so the younger we can be involved with pupils, the more realistic their ideas will be. It's true that a few might go on to great acting careers, but equally, not everybody wants to act and we can show them the other options.