National Apprenticeship Week 2022
This week is National Apprenticeship Week, an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships that takes place across England. It celebrates the positive impact that apprenticeships bring to employers, individuals, and the economy. The Royal Ballet School has a number of apprentices who are an integral part of our team, bringing immense value to the School.
The benefits of apprenticeships
The School is committed to offering a varied range of apprenticeships. These incorporate both on and off the job training and can be a great alternative to university. Apprenticeships are an opportunity for individuals to gain amazing experience in the arts and education sector and can lead to brilliant future careers. Our apprentices are so valuable to the School as, among many other attributes, they can bring a fresh perspective to their teams.
Words from our apprentices
We spoke to some of our current and previous apprentices about their experiences:
Apprenticeships are a great option for those who want to gain valuable on-the-job experience whilst simultaneously achieving a rewarding qualification.
The Royal Ballet School provided a wonderful environment and excellent support during my two year apprenticeship – they gave me the opportunity to develop within a role that would usually require a degree and years’ experience.
Phillipa Eley, former Marketing and Communications apprentice, now Digital Marketing Executive
It sounds dramatic but this apprenticeship at the School has changed my life in the best way possible.
I tried my hand at lots of different jobs in different environments after University, not really knowing what I was good at, the various jobs that were out there or what I wanted to do. Then I stumbled into a volunteer role in marketing and curation for a film collective; it was something I loved doing and was really passionate about. I knew I wanted to do these things in full-time employment but I was struggling to get an entry level position in these areas. Becoming a Marketing Apprentice at the School has allowed me to build a solid foundation of marketing knowledge and a wide-ranging skillset because apprenticeships by their very nature are not specialised; you get to work across many varying projects. This is the best job I’ve had and I love working in this environment with my team; I wouldn’t be at the School had it not been for an apprenticeship.
To quote George Eliot: ‘It’s never too late to be what you might have been.’ I applied for this role at the age of 29. Apprenticeships are not just for school leavers; they’re the perfect opportunity for anyone who wants a career change.
Amy Watts, Marketing and Communications Apprentice
I am 6 months into my apprenticeship at the Royal Ballet School, I am the Intensive Courses Apprentice studying a Level 3 Events Assistant qualification. This apprenticeship has been a great opportunity to learn new skills, knowledge and behaviours and incorporate them into my day to day role at the School. The Royal Ballet School has been an extremely welcoming environment and I have been fortunate enough to work with several different departments to further my learning, confidence and work relationships.
Ashley Jones, Intensive Courses Apprentice
Being an apprentice at the Royal Ballet School has been a really rewarding experience. I came to the job with very little practical experience (though a lot of enthusiasm), and I have been supported the whole way with learning new skills and taking on bigger responsibilities. I really feel part of the School team.
Katy McEntee, Training and Access Apprentice
Find out more about apprenticeships at the School.
