Building And Sustaining The Talent Pipeline - A Look At Apprenticeships In Live Events
Watch on demand: How can apprenticeships help build a stronger, more skilled workforce for the live events industry?
In this PLASA Show 2026 seminar, Sally Garner-Gibbons of Chichester College Group and Chichester Festival Theatre is joined by Lee Jestico of Creative Technology to explore how businesses can develop successful apprenticeship programmes and invest in the next generation of entertainment technology professionals.
Combining practical guidance for employers with real-world case studies, the session covers apprenticeship pathways, funding, training requirements and career progression. Creative Technology shares how its Level 5 Audiovisual Technician programme has helped develop new talent, while Chichester Festival Theatre demonstrates the long-term benefits of creating opportunities through work experience, mentoring and apprenticeships.
Key topics explored:
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Understanding apprenticeships: How different apprenticeship levels work and the opportunities available across live events and technical production.
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Getting started as an employer: What businesses need to consider, including recruitment, mentoring, salaries, training time and workplace resources.
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Finding the right training provider: The importance of choosing a provider with relevant industry experience and effective support systems.
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Creative Technology's success story: How structured workplace training and experience on major productions helped apprentices progress into technician roles.
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Building a sustainable skills pipeline: How Chichester Festival Theatre connects youth engagement, work experience and apprenticeships with longer-term career opportunities.
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Overcoming practical challenges: Managing costs, staff capacity, training requirements and operational demands while supporting apprentice development.
Watch the full seminar for useful guidance, practical examples and insights into how apprenticeships can support recruitment, professional development and the future of the live entertainment workforce.
