In a bid to ensure Event Apprenticeships encompass the full spectrum of the industry, a new initiative has been announced, aimed at expanding opportunities beyond the conventional Event Assistant route.

Despite initial challenges, participants have successfully crafted a unique apprenticeship model, blending traditional security apprenticeships with event-specific skills and knowledge. Spearheaded by Liz Turner from the EEP Security Team, the initiative represents a significant stride towards creating a broader and comprehensive apprenticeship programme.

The innovative approach marbles the event industry's requirements around venue experience, licensing, emergency first aid, and accessibility training alongside the standard Level 2 and Level 3 security apprenticeships, offering participants a holistic understanding of event security management. The first cohort will be hosted at ExCeL London, with the venue being the backdrop for first hand exposure to the event environment.

Liz Turner said, “The EEP Security Team believes in empowering their people through development, commitment & training. For us, the apprenticeship programme delivers on all counts and enables our people to grow within the company, creating a career within Event Security”.

"We recognized the need to broaden the scope of Event Apprenticeships, and the collaboration with ExCeL London, the AEV Security working group and Stambridge Group has been instrumental in shaping this pioneering initiative," remarked Liz Turner.

Henry Havis, Head of Security at ExCeL London, said: “Security is, and always will be, a fundamental aspect of ExCeL so we’re fully supportive of this initiative and one that will enhance the knowledge and understanding of the people who keep us safe day in, day out.

“The apprenticeship scheme will provide a great launchpad for the next generation looking to enter the event security industry and help make security a professional career choice from the offset.”

This apprenticeship is available to those working in or starting to work in a range of security operative and guard roles. Those who are the first line of defence against activities that threaten the security of their venues and events.

Eligible candidates must commit to an average of 30 hours per week and have lived in the UK for a minimum of three years, with thorough eligibility assessments conducted to ensure suitability for the program.

Key stakeholders, including Liz Turner of EEP, Henry Havis of ExCeL, and Kevin Bird of Stambridge Group, have contributed to shaping the program, highlighting a collective commitment to fostering innovation and inclusivity within the event industry.

For more information about the event marbled apprenticeship and enrolment details, interested parties are encouraged to contact James at info@tsplearn.co.uk or call 0118 984 4638.

Media Contact:

James Bishop

TSP Learn

info@tsplearn.co.uk

0118 984 4638

Candice Kass

Events Apprenticeships

info@eventsapprenticeships.org

Independent training provider MUTI Live is pleased to announce its first round of apprentice recruitment and placement with South West based Events companies is up and running. After an overwhelming response to their first round of recruitment from local young adults keen to get into technician roles in industry, they now have nearly 20 impressive young talent on their books ready to join top-end employers in the region.

The first enrollment with Bristol based company TH Collective has been successful and they are lining up Re-Production and a host of others over the coming months for more tech and Events Assistant placements.

MUTI is also pleased to announce a partnership with SLX and local diversity champions, social enterprise company Babassa, to develop a rigorous and long-term plan for increasing the intake of currently under-represented groups in the sector.

In addition to all of this activity MUTI Live has recently received a grant as a partner organisation of Culture West, a West of England Combined Authority (WECA) led initiative funded by Arts Council South West, to support the Live Arts and Events sector and develop pathways into industry for future generations. Part of this will be MUTI developing their VR recruitment and training toolkit, which in its beta phase, is proving a massive hit at careers fairs across the region!

Finally, good news in the Department for Education confirming allocation of funds for Creative Production 'Skills Bootcamps' in the region. As a contributor to the business case for this, MUTI will be exploring how these shorter targeted training offers can support the full breadth of skills development from casuals to senior managers to add to our portfolio of sector-specific training.

If you are interested in taking on an apprentice or enrolling any existing junior staff onto an apprenticeship. Or if you would like to help us shape our Skills Bootcamps offer then please get in touch with co-director Nick Young-Wolfe at nick@muti.live

Employers working in the outdoor events sector are being urged to help review the Events Assistant Level 3 apprenticeship.

Representatives across the industry make up the Trailblazer group to review the standards to ensure they are in line with industry standards, specifically regarding new technology, sustainability and DEI and therefore vitally important to the outdoor events sector to have representation within the existing group.

Apprenticeships, designed by employers, with support from IfATE, will have a vital role to play in increasing the number of properly qualified event professionals with the aim to professionalise and drive the culture change needed across the industry.

Volunteers will need to spare an hour each month to meet and review the current apprenticeships standards.

Richard Waddington, EA project lead, “Apprenticeships are an important training route and we would like employers to come forward to work with Event Apprenticeships to refresh the existing standards to help make sure events are delivered to the highest possible standards. Apprenticeships are designed by employers, so I would urge those interested in playing their part to contact us.”

Apprenticeships, T Levels, and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are all shaped by employers with support from IfATE. Almost all other technical qualifications at levels 2 and 3 will in future have to be employer-led too.

Everything will follow the lead of occupational standards, so guidance on the training requirements from increasing numbers of businesses is more important than ever.

Employers interested in supporting Events Apprenticeships trailblazers are vital work on should email info@eventsapprenticeships.org

Highlighting the value of apprenticeships to the event industry, an increase in funding from £12,000 to £14,000 for the Creative Industries’ Production Technician Apprenticeship is a clear indication of the importance of creating event industry-related apprenticeships. This increase emphasises the value of these apprenticeships and the need to invest in the next generation of event industry professionals.

Events Apprenticeships are pleased to announce the Creative Industries’ Production Technician Apprenticeship Standard & End Point Assessment has been approved for delivery.

The Standard brings together three former apprenticeships:

- Live Event Technician

- Creative Venue Technician

- Screen Lighting Technician

The combination of these three apprenticeships into the one Standard provides great breadth with core and optional modules.

John MvEvoy emphasised, “While some training is shared across all strands, other elements are more specialised, with the sole purpose of preparing, building, setting up, and operating functioning systems for creative productions”.

The co-chairs for the standard are John Young, industry H&S practitioner and ex-Head of Technical Services, ATG and John McEvoy, Head of Business Delivery, White Light and PSA Council Member with Krisztina Biliczky from Screenskills.

John McEvoy said; “We’ve known for a while that there is a shortage of technicians coming into the events industry, and that employers are finding it difficult to attract new talent. We’re confident this new Standard will provide people with a route into our industry, and provide training and a recognised qualification that will give them the ability to develop their knowledge, and hopefully help with the skills shortage. We know there is an appetite from employers for this apprenticeship, so we’re hopeful that within a few years there will be 200+ starts per year across the three strands”.

Not only does this new Standard provide employers with a strategic pathway for workforce planning, but it presents an unprecedented opportunity for businesses to broaden their approach to DEI, tapping into talented yet underrepresented groups.

With university or higher education being out of reach for many, the Creative Industries’ Production Technician Apprenticeship enables employers to consider ‘all people’, extending their net into a far more diverse talent pool, beyond barriers such as socioeconomic background, age or identity.

Richard Waddington, industry Lead for Events Apprenticeships said; “Apprenticeships have a vital part to play in growing the industry. Gaining a recognised qualification on completion of the apprenticeship is just one of the major benefits apprenticeships provide for people building their careers. As an industry we have come together as Events Apprenticeships to build, evolve and develop opportunities for people across the industry, at all levels, from every background”.

The IfATE website has published the Standard, which you can find at:

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/creative-industries-production-technician-v1-0.

The Power of Events announces its cross-four-nation tour to introduce the Event Industry Insight App. This unique roadshow will traverse the four nations, igniting enthusiasm and showcasing the immense potential of this groundbreaking app.

It is designed to be an innovative tool for industry partners to help them with their insight/data and research needs, leveraging the unique cross 7 sectors supporter community and trust in The Power of Events mission. All event professionals are invited to download it from the App/Google stores and register, to help the industry become better understood, valued and respected. Several projects are already looking to deploy the app to support their own research projects - including for Leeds Beckett University and also for supporting a freelance data insight project for later in the year with LIVE, Handle Freelance Solutions, UK Live Event Freelancers Forum and The BACK LOUNGE - with more in the planning pipeline.

The Power of Events tour comprises over 20 engagements throughout October, launching in Wakefield at Production Futures ON TOUR on 28th September, then landing in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and across England. The team will be visiting University and Industry Partner events alike, whilst engaging with the full spectrum of event professionals and the next generation - see Tour calendar graphic.

As a way of thanking attendees for their attendance and engagement, there will be an extra layer of excitement with special prize draws throughout the tour. Attendees can participate in the exclusive prize draw by simply downloading and registering in the app, for a chance to win incredible rewards including tickets for NFL London, ATP Tour Finals, Bournemouth 7s Festival, Drumsheds gigs, a choice of one of Reading/Leeds/Wireless/Latitude festivals, Disney100 at ExCel London, a complimentary stay at The Celtic Manor Resort, Event Diploma courses, exhibition spaces at The Showman’s Show and Production Futures, Event industry awards tickets and more to be announced…

Rick, Founder of The Power of Events, commented:

"We are always listening, encouraging feedback on what we can do to help make this industry better understood, valued and respected. Faster access to quality data, a broader range of research participants and more dynamic engagement tools have

been suggested - boosted by the unique reach of The Power of Events across the seven sectors throughout the Four Nations in one hit.

This roadshow is also our way of sharing our vision and future projects - such as the up and coming Careers Hub section on the platform and the Schools Engagement Programme launching by the end of 2023.”

Be part of the mission to showcase the power of the UK Events Industry - attend a tour event in your area. To be entered into the prize draw - download the App and register from 28/09/23.

To be involved please visit www.thepowerofevents.org & and keep up to date by following us on social media.

10 July 2023

The Government has much to say about the value of tourism, hospitality, and events to the UK economy.

A study produced in 2021 showed that in 2018 (Office for National Statistics (ONS) 1, the tourism industries contributed £127.5 billion to the UK’s economy. This equated to 6.7% of all GVA in the UK in 2018. In the same year 3.9 million people were employed in the tourism industries. The ONS calculated that the tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA) for 2018 was £71.7 billion.

In 2019 economic output of the hospitality sector was £59.3 billion, which was around 3% of total UK economic output. Hospitality businesses represented 3-5% of businesses in each country and region. In the three months to March 2020, there were 2.53 million jobs in the hospitality sector in the UK, representing 7.1% of total UK employment. The hospitality industry has higher proportions of younger workers, foreign-born workers, part-time workers and workers from minority ethnic backgrounds compared to other sectors.

Reports by Cities Restart and UKEVENTS placed direct spend on business events between £19.4bn and £31b in 2019, with leisure events adding a further £30bn. Post COVID 19 business events is expected to increase by 43% by 2026. In support, UK Sport’s analysis of 12 major sport events in 20226 (excluding the Commonwealth Games) revealed a 6:1 return on investment distributed across host towns and cities.

While there may be some cross-over in the data based on different definitions of THE, collectively this data highlights the significant contribution that these industries make to the UK economy, outperforming other sectors.

To achieve and sustain this level of economic contribution it is critical that the sector is able to access highly qualified, skilled graduates. Current Government policy does not, however, reflect this. Policies on both Further and Higher Education will reduce the viability of studying management qualifications in these sectors at a time when all three industries are facing a significant staff crisis7 7 8. A reduction in THE education will simply result in a smaller and less skilled workforce and limit the sectors’ ability to achieve distributed growth.

Effective training and education are critical to sustain and grow these sectors, and to create new jobs and further economic impact. Despite this, current education policy does not reflect this. Tourism,

Hospitality and events qualifications are under threat – both within Further Education and Higher Education – as a result of both direct policy decisions and the consequences of others.

In response, the Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE), The Council for Hospitality Management Education (CHME), and The Association for Events Management Education (AEME) have commissioned a study to evaluate the importance, impact and trajectory of qualifications across the three subject areas. The Associations have also launched an Open Letter which has already secured 1,600 signatures in support of a review of policy approaches.

https://www.change.org/p/government-policy-for-travel-tourism-and-hospitality-education

The three subject associations are also hosting a major national one-day event at the University of West London. The outcomes of the research will be shared at this event, alongside presentations and panel discussions with industry, academia and professional bodies that represent the three sectors.

The conference is organised in response to current Government policy and will include the findings of a major study funded by the three Subject Associations and delivered by Buckinghamshire New University.

Several key national stakeholders – including industry representatives and trade organisations - have already confirmed their attendance, as well as representatives from a breadth of further and higher education institutions. and will provide opportunities to explore creative responses to the challenges of Government policy, as well as an opportunity to add weight to the work being undertaken to demonstrate the importance of our sectors to policymakers.

-Ends

Contacts:

Dr Peter Robinson: Co-Chair, The Association for Tourism in Higher Education peter.robinson@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Prof. Una McMahon-Beattie: Chair, The Council for Hospitality Management Education usm.mcmahon@ulster.ac.uk

Adrian Bossey: Chair, The Association for Events Management Education

Adrian.Bossey@falmouth.ac.uk

Notes:

The Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE) is the subject association for tourism in higher education in the UK. Its objectives include promoting the development and recognition of tourism as a subject of study in the UK at foundation degree, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels, and encouraging high standards in learning, teaching and research. To this end, it works with other bodies concerned with higher education in the UK such as the Quality Assurance Agency and the Higher Education Academy; it is a Learned Society of the Academy for the Social Sciences.

6 July 2023

Apprenticeships are a vital tool for enhancing the availability of talent in the events industry, but Richard Waddington, Lead, Event Apprenticeships, argues that perceptions must change and that industry leaders should be more active in encouraging them.

The UK events industry is facing a chronic skills shortage, and I am firmly of the view that apprenticeships hold the key to unlocking untapped potential and bringing in a diverse pool of talented individuals. UKEVENTS has recognised this, and as a result has provided initial seed funding to re-establish the Event Apprenticeships programme specifically for this sector.

By investing in apprenticeships, we can elevate our industry to new heights while addressing the current staff shortage challenge.

Apprenticeships are another route into the industry, with more than 500 event assistant apprentices between 2017-2021 (IFATE, 2022). Given the number of people employed in the industry, this is a small percentage and a potential opportunity for growth. This is mainly due to a lack of awareness, understanding and investment as to the opportunities available outside of the university route.

Let us be clear that this is not just a route for the young, but for people at all stages of their careers. Nonetheless, there are some wider issues to address.

Changing mindsets and working together

One of the main challenges we face is the need for a shift in the industry mindset. Understandably, many businesses are grappling with their own struggles, making it difficult to invest time and resources into training and development.

However, if we fail to invest in the future, we'll forever be chasing our own tails. The solution lies in working together and making investments in apprenticeships, fostering a more inclusive and diverse industry.

The role of trainers and government funding

We are working with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), as well as with employers, to develop, approve, review and revise apprenticeships and technical qualifications.

To make apprenticeships a reality, IfATE partner with various agencies, companies, universities, and colleges that provide the necessary training.

The Government plays a crucial role by funding the external training component through the apprenticeship levy. Businesses with an annual salary bill exceeding £3 million automatically contribute an additional 0.5% to the levy. For those below this threshold, funding can be applied for, and there are surplus funds available to support apprenticeship programmes.

The journey of an apprentice

When a company decides to employ an apprentice, they embark on a structured training and development programme. The apprentices receive both internal and external testing to ensure their progress and growth. Close collaboration between the company, trainers, and apprenticeship governing bodies aligns the internal training with the external curriculum, creating a cohesive learning experience. At the end of the programme, apprentices undergo a final assessment and earn a recognised qualification.

Expanding opportunities and retaining talent

The benefits of apprenticeships extend beyond the initial programme. By retaining apprentices as skilled employees, companies can continue their professional development journey with government funding the cost of learning through the programme.

Future apprenticeships can focus on management and leadership training, equipping individuals with the skills needed to run teams and handle strategic responsibilities. This comprehensive approach ensures a continuous pipeline of talent within organisations and throughout the industry.

Engaging the industry and raising awareness

We have established an Events Apprenticeship Advisory Board and a Trailblazer group comprising senior professionals from the industry. These forums ensure that our programme is shaped by industry needs, and they foster collaboration across different associations within the UK events sector.

To fund our efforts, we have reached out to the industry and set up a fundraising campaign. We aim to raise approximately £80,000 to cover programme costs and marketing initiatives. To reiterate an earlier point, the Government will fund the training element of the apprenticeship, but the costs of running the scheme, such as its marketing, must be otherwise funded.

Any events business which is serious about investing in its talent, be it venue, agency, or supplier, would be well advised to support this programme.

We’re extremely grateful to the Events Industry Forum (EIF) who have embraced the initiative and made a substantial contribution which will allow us to get on the front foot and drive things forward, however we do need more industry support.

Promoting the industry and apprenticeships

Creating a culture of learning within the events industry requires broad awareness. UKEVENTS itself has done a lot of work in this field, researching and engaging, with Priya Narain leading the Skills, Talent and Diversity Working Group, and for that we are thankful. We plan to engage with schools and educators to showcase the benefits of apprenticeships and the endless possibilities within our field.

By collaborating with influencers such as parents, social workers, and career advisors, we can introduce the events industry as a viable – and rewarding – career option. Through trial sessions, we have witnessed the spark of interest in young minds when they learn about the industry and the opportunities it presents.

We’re working with the Power of Events on some of these initiatives, promoting awareness of the industry and the many opportunities within it.

This now presents an opportunity for event organisations to encourage more talent to join the industry; we simply cannot complain about the lack of talent without taking the responsibility to invest ourselves.

I urge you all to the visit the Events Apprenticeships website to get involved.

24 June 2023

Alex Hewitt, CEO, AOK Events, attended Glastonbury for the first on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June and was totally amazed by the experience. As a fellow #eventprof, we asked him to share his thoughts:

“If there is one event in the calendar that sums up just how amazing the British event industry is, it must be the Glastonbury Festival.  Having visited for the first time this year, I was totally blown away by the entire event’s experience, delivery and most importantly the thousands of ‘unsung heroes’ behind the scenes, both professional and volunteers who worked their socks off to deliver out and out excellence, everywhere you looked, walked, drank and danced.

You simply cannot understand the scale and size of Glastonbury until you get there.  It’s beyond huge with the site itself 8.5sq miles in size – allegedly it becomes the 8th or 9th largest city in the UK for 5 days and demands its own 100 bed hospital, police force and an absolute army of people recruited to look after 210,000 hedonists.

The thing that Glastonbury does best of all, is it puts its customer first, every step of the way.  Culturally this is very different from many rights holders who seem to think that their customers are simply wallets to be emptied every step of the way.

Of course it’s busy and 25,000-35,000 steps of walking every day are “the norm” but my God, it’s worth it.  The music is of course the main event and there are over 100 stages of varying sizes to choose from. The sound quality is amazing everywhere you go with the lighting, video and SFX all on point. No wonder the UK Events Industry is revered around the world for technical production.

There are over 400 food outlets on site and the quality was as good as anywhere I can remember.  Every possible taste was catered for and with a food market on site for the outlets to stock up, every meal was beautifully fresh, tasty and served by smiling staff who just wanted their guests to love their food.  Everywhere was reasonably priced too with most meals around £10.  Of course, there were bars everywhere too and despite the hot weather, queues were minimal and if you didn’t want a pint of cider, you could top up your water bottle at refill stations, everywhere you went.

However, putting the amazing bands and entertainment aside, the stars of the show were the volunteers, who supported the official eventprofs across all aspects of the weekend and for 5 days became Glastonbury’s event managers.  Whether they were helping guests get in and out of the site, access the myriad of camping sites, get to the gigs of their choice or be on hand to help if you had a question, every single person I came into contact with had a wonderful “can do” attitude and a smile on their face.  Everybody cared that each and every customer had the time of their lives and it’s this approach that makes the UK event industry such an attractive one to join, regardless of which area you want to get involved in.”

So next time you, a friend, family etc attend an event, take a step back, give a little thought as to how the event was put together and say thankyou to those unsung heroes ‘The eventprofs as without them it would never have happened.

14 June 2023

The EIF (Events Industry Forum, a not-for-profit organisation) has made a substantial funding contribution to www.eventsapprenticeship.org to help it develop and promote apprenticeships in the UK events industry.

The funding has been provided by EIF from sales of the Purple Guide, the go-to guidance for organising outdoor events which is widely used both in the UK and increasingly overseas.

Events Apprenticeships is the UKEVENTS led initiative, set up to pull together and develop event industry related apprenticeships across the sector, from logistics, production, rigging, lighting, fabrication, security etc.

The aim is to support companies in understanding the value and processes associated with employing apprentices and to promote event apprenticeships to the wider community, to enable people from all backgrounds and ages to gain experience and relevant professional qualifications within the events industry.

It also aims to break down barriers to entry, specifically where experience is required, and to attract a new broader pipeline of talent in addition to the university graduate route.

Richard Waddington, on behalf of Events Apprenticeships said: “We’re extremely grateful for the support and commitment EIF are showing us, along with our many other industry partners. Our industry is facing a massive challenge in both recruiting, developing and retaining talent within our sector. With the industry now starting to work together to develop apprenticeships, they will become a well needed route into driving greater diversity and inclusion.

Steve Heap Chair of EIF said: “Richard presented the vision for Events Apprenticeships to the Board and all the hard work the EAAB (events apprenticeships advisory board) have done to date, which is phenomenal for a group of volunteers – apprenticeships and awareness of them is paramount for the future of our industry – we all need to get out there and bang the drum to drive this forward. EIF are extremely proud to be supporting this industry initiative and working with them to take it forward.

"EIF is particularly keen to encourage young talent into the outdoor events industry through structured training that will give them a career path for life.

Events Apprenticeships have been set up to influence the way apprenticeships are perceived and drive forward innovative and creative work, to ensure that more individuals and businesses can access the benefits and to understand, they are not just for entry level roles but are there to support ongoing career development. Events Apprenticeships has been set up to help companies understand this and access the government funds available.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Email: info@eventsapprenticeships.org

Social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/events-apprenticeships/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/events-apprenticeships/

For further information on the Events Apprenticeships framework please contact Candice Kass at info@eventsapprenticeships.org

EIF

Website: https://www.eventsindustryforum.co.uk/

More on EIF and the Purple Guide

The Events Industry Forum represents the UK outdoor events industry and publishes the Purple Guide, the guidance formerly published by the Health & Safety Executive which is widely recognised as the key reference source for managing events outdoors.

Membership of the Forum, which operates as a not-for-profit organisation, is made up of event industry trade associations and representative organisations. It also has an Associated Membership of enforcement agencies and similar bodies who meet regularly to discuss issues of common interest.