Creative Employment Programme generates 298 jobs in four months

The second round of applications to the Creative Employment Programme (CEP) has created 84 apprenticeships and 45 internships for unemployed young people across England, bringing the total number of jobs created to 298 since the CEP was launched in March.

Creative & Cultural Skills are aiming to create 6,500 work opportunities for young people over the next two years. 

The latest round of funding has resulted in notable success for theatres, with approved applications from Spotlites Theatre Company Ltd., New Theatre Royal Portsmouth and Kneehigh Theatre Trust. 

London Theatre Consortium (LTC), made up of 13 theatres across London, and the Liverpool Arts Regeneration Consortium, a group of seven major cultural organisations in Liverpool, have also received funding to create new entry-level positions.

The contemporary craft industry will also benefit from the latest funding round, with the National Centre for Craft and Design and the British Ceramics Biennial receiving funding to offer new opportunities in their organisations.
 
Jessica Hepburn, Executive Director of the Lyric Hammersmith and vice-Chair of the LTC says:

“This feels like a landmark moment. It is the first time that 13 London theatres have worked collaboratively to offer a new route into our industry. Sadly our sector is still shockingly under-representative of the diverse city in which we work. This programme could really start to change that in a meaningful way. It’s incredibly exciting.”

Iain Cartwright, General Manager, British Ceramics Biennial, says:

“This a fantastic opportunity for us to increase our capacity, by providing internship opportunities for two young people to work, support and promote the best in contemporary ceramics through the British Ceramics Biennial Festival.”

Catherine Large, Joint CEO, Creative & Cultural Skills, says:

“We are thrilled that employers from all over the country and right across the sector are engaging with the Creative Employment Programme in such a positive way. The programme is gaining real momentum as employers recognise the fantastic opportunity to increase their workforces with local talent, and contribute to long-term change in the sector in the process.  
There are still 18 funding rounds to come over the next two years, so there remain many opportunities for other organisations to invest in the future workforce.”

Joyce Wilson, Director, London, Arts Council England, says:

"The Creative Employment Programme is vital in helping young unemployed people find paid entry level work in arts and culture. It gives young people a fantastic opportunity to gain skills and experience that potential employers will value, and Arts Council England is delighted by the successes so far.

"As many young people across the country are struggling to find paid employment, this programme is more crucial than ever. There is a skills shortage in the arts sector - more than a quarter of creative and cultural organisations report having had difficulty in recruiting due to a lack of experience and skills in applicants. We risk long term damage to the arts in this country if young people cannot gain entry into the sector and we lose that generation of talent. Thankfully programmes like The Creative Employment Programme are there to help young people get their first step on the career ladder."

Funding rounds for the Creative Employment Programme run every 5 weeks with the next round closing on Friday 12th July 2013. 

To find out more about apprenticeships, internships or making an application for wage funding contact cep@ccskills.org.uk or visit www.creative-employment.co.uk