Apprenticeships

Abstract image of an empty barre in the studio.

The Royal Ballet School is committed to offering apprenticeships in a varied range of departments within the School. Apprenticeships are paid jobs that incorporate on and off the job training. 80% of an apprentice’s time is spent completing on-the-job training through day-to-day tasks, and 20% of an apprentice’s time must be spent completing off-the-job training which includes coursework, webinars, seminars, assisting other departments, online learning and research.

Many apprentices qualify with a nationally recognised qualification while gaining years of experience in their field of work, aiding them in their career path. These courses can take between 1 – 6 years to complete. At The Royal Ballet School, they usually last 18-24 months depending on the course/qualification.

Is an apprenticeship right for you?

Apprenticeships are a great alternative to university, where you can gain a high level of training whilst working alongside a team. There are pros and cons to this on-the-job training. Find out if an apprenticeship is right for you.

Why The Royal Ballet School recruits apprentices

In April 2017, it became compulsory for medium to large employers to pay into the apprenticeship levy, a UK tax which can be used to fund apprenticeship training. In 2018, the School decided to utilise the levy with a trial apprentice based in the HR department. The success of this experiment led to further apprenticeships being introduced around the School.

Apprentices give the organisation a way of tapping into a new pool of talent. People without much or any workplace experience, or any experience in this particular field, are attracted to working here, which brings a fresh perspective to their department, benefitting the School as a whole. Each apprentice has an external apprenticeship tutor who teaches them the overall theory of the role, while our line managers can focus on teaching the job in hand. Apprentices gain a wealth of experience in their specific role and familiarity with the arts and education sectors, preparing them for their future careers.

Wider landscape

In 2018/19 there were 742,000 people participating in an apprenticeship in England. Apprenticeships are available in thousands of job roles covering more than 170 industries. Apprenticeships are shaking off their old image and are increasingly seen as a dynamic and affordable addition to recruitment options for employers.

Shopping Basket