Skills for life: Transforming the arts through T Levels

For decades, the National Theatre (NT) has been focused on boosting creative skills and professional development opportunities. We are the largest employer in the not-for-profit theatre sector, and a skills incubator for the entire creative industries.

No matter what your skill set or aspiration, there is a role at the NT to explore – in person or digitally – across performance, production, business, engineering, technical, digital, hospitality and more.

It is vital to widen routes into the industry to ensure the pipeline of talent is not diminished. One of the many routes into the sector is through technical qualifications such as T Levels. Since they were introduced in 2021, thousands of students have completed a T Level, with the number predicted to rise as the list of subjects expands and the demand for technical education increases.

One of the latest T Level subjects launched, as of September, is the Media, Broadcast and Production T Level. The NT played a role in shaping the curriculum for it. As a proud provider of apprenticeships, having offered them for 12 years, we’ve seen the value technical education brings our organisation.

But we want to do more to train our future workforce and address the growing skills shortage across the sector, which is why were keen to support the rollout of this new T Level.

The demand for technical education in the arts

The skills shortage in the creative industries is reflected in data showing 42% of creative industry employers report a skills gap, with 73% confirming they struggle to find people with the right skills, according to a Creative Industries Council report. For theatre in particular, this was exacerbated during the pandemic and has continued since. This has resulted in organisations suffering resource strain with unfilled vacancies.

One way to proactively address the problem is by investing in technical education. Our initial investment in technical education started with the introduction of apprenticeships. Since 2011, we have taken on nearly 60 entry level apprentices across 17 departments, including costume, carpentry and a variety of office-based roles.

We currently have ten apprentices at the NT and ten former apprentices are now employed in the building. Others are working elsewhere in the sector, as freelancers, or applying their skills in other industries – from film and television to a tattoo parlour in Peckham.

Our vision is to supercharge specialist skills needed across the whole sector and inspire future artists, craftspeople and technicians. We’re currently recruiting for our free technical training programmes, Nationwide Young Technicians and How to be a Producer. Through incorporating T Levels into our skills offer, we hope to continue to broaden routes into the creative industries for young people across the country.

Continues…

Kipp Talbot-Dunn is a scenic metal fabricator apprentice at the National Theatre © Cameron Slater Photography

So what exactly are T Levels?

T Levels are a two-year qualification for 16-19-year-olds that are equivalent to three A levels. They include a mandatory work placement for a minimum of 45 days, designed to give students an introduction to the workplace, as well as their chosen sector.

On completion, they can progress to higher level qualifications, equivalent to a degree – such as a Level 6 apprenticeship or a Higher Technical Qualification. Alternatively, they can continue their studies at university or enter straight into the workplace.

Employers play a primary role in shaping the T Level curriculum meaning that students, even when not on placement, are exposed to the latest developments, best practices and knowledge of the sector from those who know them best.

Study for the new Media, Broadcast and Production T Level involves learning about the creative economy, audience and consumer needs, as well as professional standards and conduct in the workplace.

Alongside the core content, there are also options to specialise by taking occupation-specific moules including:

Creative media technician
Events and venues technician
Content creation and production

At the NT, we’ve partnered with local education providers Lilian Baylis Technology School and Mulberry UTC to deliver our T Level placements. This partnership sits at the heart of the qualification: the young people matched with the NT will undertake their placements with us.

Additionally, the education providers will guide us on how best to look after the specific students and bring the best out of them during their placement with us. This month we will host our first cohort of Technical T Level students and are very excited to work with them.

Benefits of T Levels for the business

There are various advantages for us in investing in T Levels. Many backstage roles at the NT – and other theatre and arts venues – require specialist knowledge that is best taught via on-the-job learning, including lighting, AV, and sound technician responsibilities.

The blend of classroom and work placement learning, which T Levels enable, makes this possible. Secondly, through T Levels, we’re able to reach a younger demographic and nurture their passion for theatre and the skills needed to succeed in the sector.

This second point is key for us since there are no fixed or established routes into theatre. Of more than a thousand staff at the NT, everyone has arrived through different paths. Our aim is to open additional, visible career pathways, including through these nationally recognised qualifications – to widen access to a career in the creative industries, particularly for currently under-represented people in our industry.

Over time, we hope the development of this new T Level enables more arts organisations to offer high-quality opportunities for young people, enhancing their career prospects and allowing the industry to flourish.

To find out more about the National Theatre Skills Centre and current opportunities for young people click here.

Want to find out more about T Levels and how they can benefit your organisation? Click here.