Member Article

New scheme is music to the ears of ambitious youngsters

YOUNG music fans who dream of a career in rock or at the helm of a record company have been given the chance to tune into their ambitions with a new apprenticeship scheme.

The Forum Music Centre, in Darlington, has teamed up with national training organisation Access to Music to create 20 music apprenticeships in the region.

The advanced apprenticeship in event production and management will give participants core skills in a wide range of areas such as organising events, live sound engineering, stage management and music production.

An open evening at The Forum on 22 March will officially start the recruitment process for places on the scheme, which starts next month and will also run from September.

Apprentices will have access to the professional music industry-standard facilities available at The Forum, including a 200-capacity live venue, and will also have opportunities for work with local, regional and national partners.

They will also benefit from business skills training which will enable them to set up a company or become self-employed within the music industry.

Meanwhile, there will be opportunities for paid work during the apprenticeship, including two weeks of employment at the Atom Music Group.

Allison McKay, one of the directors of Humantics CIC, which runs The Forum, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain a foothold in the music industry and learn from the experts and through experience using our excellent facilities.

Phil Ellis, music industry consultant at Access to Music, said: “Access to Music’s advanced apprenticeships offer the opportunity for apprentices to gain experience as event managers, freelance producers as well as other roles. There is also an opportunity to work on national and regional events.

“The Forum is an absolutely fantastic venue for the scheme and we look forward to unearthing the next generation of music industry talent in the North East.”

Access to Music has eight apprenticeship centres across the country and partners several major festivals including Liverpool Sound City and Manchester’s In the City festival.

Two of its former apprentices are now managing British rapper Tinchy Stryder while another is currently working on an album project with global pop sensation Lady GaGa.

Earlier this year The Forum – which serves as a live performance facility and houses studios, rehearsal space and a café / bar – officially made the transition from trading as a private firm to a community interest company.

The open evening will be held at The Forum music centre, Borough Road, Darlington from 7pm – 9pm on 22 March, where Access to Music will be in attendance to answer any queries regarding the apprenticeships.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .