Media Release: Youth employment initiative offers career boost for young adults across Scotland

22 traineeships supported in 2013-14

YOUNG adults across Scotland are set to receive a career boost under a new Youth Employment Initiative programme.

Twenty-two traineeships have been supported through Creative Scotland’s Traineeship scheme, part of the Youth Employment Initiative programme. Over 58 applications were received from employers and the first of these posts are now being advertised.

The purpose of the scheme is to give young people interested in developing a career in arts and culture, the opportunity to gain skills and experience that potential employers will value, remove the barrier of lack of paid work experience, and help boost the start of their career in the sector.

Joan Parr, portfolio manager for Education, Learning and Young People at Creative Scotland, said: “Through the Traineeship scheme we are engaging with arts organisations in Scotland that can offer trainees a tailored experience, enabling them to develop their skills and experience of working in the arts, screen and creative industries.

“We had a fantastic response to the call for applications and hope that the final 22 organisations gain as much from the scheme as the trainees.”

Creative Scotland offered support to the applicant organisation of up to £10,000 for a full-time, year-long Traineeship. The Traineeship was aimed at 20-30 year olds who are finding barriers to developing a career in the arts though lack of opportunity.

Organisations who took part offered a contract of employment and contributed to all other costs towards the salary and development of the Trainee.

Bright Night International is one of the successful arts organisations offering a Trainee position for 2014.

Phyllis Martin, of Bright Night International, said:  “We are very excited to be creating a role for Scotland’s first paid Circus Trainee. We have had interest from a huge range of young people with serious ambition, looking to develop their talents.

“The successful candidate will be joining us for the month long Commonwealth Youth Circus tour, helping teach at the Bright Night Youth Circus and making their own work. Circus touches on dance, physical theatre and athletics, so it is a great step in a young performer’s career.

“As a growing sector it is vital that we give young artists the skills to work professionally and follow their path. The trainee will gain valuable practical skills in all areas of working circus life. We have been exporting our circus talent from Scotland for too long.

“Applications are open until 28th April and details are at www.brightnightinternational.com.”

The successful organisations were required to demonstrate a clear role for the Trainee and involvement in projects that will enhance their CV and develop their employability; how the Traineeship will fit within the organisation and its future developments; a recognised structure to support staff and trainees; an appropriate Line Management and Mentoring.

Creative Scotland will be evaluating this programme as it runs to look at how this might build into future developments to support young people to develop sustainable careers in the arts, screen and creative industries.

The scheme sits alongside the Modern Apprenticeships which are aimed at 16-19 year-olds and the Creative Internship scheme delivered through SCVO which has offered over 135, three-month paid placements in the two years it has been running.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

In 2013/14, the total budget available across the Youth Employment Initiative was £500,000 and the maximum award for each organisation employing a trainee was fixed at £10,000.

Posts are being advertised on Creative Scotland’s Opportunities website  – http://opportunities.creativescotland.com/

There were various strands within the programme:

  • Creative Internships (partnering with SCVO and aimed at graduates)
  • Modern Apprenticeships (aimed at 16-19 year-olds)
  • Princes Youth Business Trust Scotland, Creative Business Start-Up Fund
  • Traineeships (aimed at 20-30 year-olds

Companies successfully offering traineeships through the Youth Employment Initiative programme are:

The Boombox Glasgow: In house studio engineer and trainee music producer
Saraband: Editorial and Marketing Assistant
Scottish Sculpture Workshop: Trainee technician
Cargo Publishing: Innovation Trainee
Gardyne Theatre: Live and Recorded Sound Trainee Technician
Media Education: Trainee Production Assistant
Edinburgh Printmakers: Programme Assistant
Glasgow International: Trainee Assistant Curator
Smallpetitklein Dance Company: Trainee Company Dancer
Centre for the Moving Image: Trainee Programmer
Screen Education Edinburgh: Creative Learning Trainee
Canongate Books Ltd: Graduate Trainee
Floris Books Trust Ltd: Editorial Assistant
An Lanntair: Trainee Assistant Technician
Bright Night International: Trainee Circus Practitioner
Macrobert Arts Centre: Trainee Creative Producer
Traverse Theatre: Trainee Director & Engagement Artist
Dundee Rep Theatre: Production Department Assistant
Glasgow Print Studio: Production Assistant
Inverleith House: Curatorial Trainee
Peacock Visual Arts: Printmaking Assistant
Street Level Photoworks: Resource Assistant

Creative Scotland is the national organisation that funds and supports the development of Scotland’s arts, screen and creative industries. Creative Scotland has four objectives: to develop and sustain a thriving environment for the arts, screen and creative industries; to support excellence in artistic and creative practice; to improve access to and participation in, arts and creative activity; and to deliver our services efficiently and effectively. For further information on Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland

Media contact:

Helen Sim
Media & PR Assistant
E: Helen.Sim@creativescotland.com
D: 0131 523 0019
T: 0330 333 2000
M: 07801 226605

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Contact: Helen Sim
Phone: 0131 523 0019
Email: helen.sim@creativescotland.com
Website: http://www.creativescotland.com