Skills Minister Phil Hope MP, has announced the Government's support for a new, purpose-built apprenticeship framework for young people joining the creative and cultural industries.
He also revealed that a number of prestige employers will offer "prototype" apprenticeship places starting this autumn, prior to the UK-wide roll out of the Creative Apprenticeship in 2008.
The Creative Apprenticeship is currently being developed by Creative & Cultural Skills, the Sector Skills Council for advertising, design, craft, cultural heritage, commercial music and the literary, visual and performing arts.
A specific response to employer demand for a flexible, purpose-built training framework, it seeks to open new routes of entry to the creative and cultural industries and help to diversify the sector workforce.
Among the employers who've agreed to take part in the prototyping scheme are EMI, UK Unsigned, The National Trust, Royal Opera House and the Sage, Gateshead. Up to 50 apprenticeship places will be offered from September 2006.
"The Government is committed to putting employers firmly in charge of the skills agenda for their sectors," said Mr Hope.
"Working through Creative & Cultural Skills and its Creative Apprenticeship Taskforce chaired by Tony Hall, they've come forward with some exciting ideas for a framework that I believe will strongly appeal to young people and meet the needs of a sector that's of growing importance to our economy. So I'm pleased that we are able to announce financial support totalling some £400,000 for the ongoing development process and the prototyping schemes. I applaud the work of the Taskforce to date and look forward to seeing it bear fruit over the coming months. I also welcome the commitment of Creative & Cultural Skills to developing the Creative and Media Specialised Diploma. This is another key plank of our plans for reform of 14-19 learning."
Creative & Cultural Skills is working closely with its partners in the Learning and Skills Council and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in England. Support for the programme has also been provided by the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales and the Northern Ireland Executive.
"Our aim is to embed a culture of apprenticeship in the creative industries across the United Kingdom," said Tom Bewick, Chief Executive of Creative & Cultural Skills.
"Our sector is rightly envied worldwide for its vision, flair, cultural capital and business performance. But that success cannot be taken for granted. Creative Apprenticeships will give talented young people a first-class introduction to working in our sector, equipping them with both job-specific skills and a sound understanding of the wider creative and cultural economy. Crucially, it will seek to help employers - both large and small - to meet pressing skills needs."
Creative & Cultural Skills has appointed Educational Development International (EDI), the vocational qualifications awarding body, to lead the development of the framework. Nigel Snook, Chief Executive of EDI commented: "We are delighted that Creative & Cultural Skills has chosen EDI to be its partner in this important project. This is a great opportunity to work leading employers in the creative industries and introduce an apprenticeship framework that will make a real difference in this vibrant and exciting sector of the economy."
Other participants in the prototyping stage include Collage Arts, Access to Music, and Creative Lewisham.
The announcements were made at a special event at "The Hospital" in Central London to mark the first anniversary of Creative & Cultural Skills as a Sector Skills Council. It also saw the signing of a formal partnership agreement with the Arts Council of England to jointly develop skills initiatives for the arts.
Green light for creative apprenticeship