Apprenticeships are a cost effective way to grow or develop your team. We work with the top theatres in the UK who are currently hiring backstage apprentices to develop talent with in their organisation. By investing in hands on development of their staff’s backstage technical skills, these theatres, live events companies and cultural venues are thriving.
Backstage & Event Apprenticeships

Theatre

Events

Venues
Grow your own Backstage Talent
Each apprenticeship is tailored to your company and the learner. We focus on meeting your demands, adapting each course to your unique business needs.
For Levy companies, the Course is funded by the apprenticeship levy, you already pay for. For Non-Levy, 95% of the course is funded by the government.*
An apprenticeship develops key skills your company needs to grow. Apprentices develop their skills while working, so there’s no delay between learning and applying them.
Improve employee retention by providing structured pathways for career progression and making employees feel valued.
Our Apprenticeships
Creative Industries
Production Technician
Level 3
21 Months
This role is found in a range of creative settings, including outside locations, entertainment venues and theatres, through to organisations that provide technical solutions for the setup of live, recorded and streamed events.
The Production Technician Apprenticeship Standard that Creative Alliance delivers has two pathways/options: Creative Venue Technician or Live Events Technician.
Cultural Learning &
Participation Officer
Level 3
13-15 Months
Cultural Learning and Participation Officers (CLPO) plan, organise & co-ordinate artistic and cultural education workshops, schedules of activity and community engagement projects that will vary in duration.
Employed by arts and cultural organisations such as galleries, museums, theatres, orchestras, concert halls, arts centres, dance companies, heritage sites and local authorities.
Event Assistant
Level 3
13-15 Months
An Event Assistant is an entry-level position, they typically plan, organise & deliver events.
The role would usually provide support to Event Planners or Project Managers by carrying out a diverse range of tasks necessary to plan, organise and deliver an event: for example, searching for the right location and venue for the event; working with the design team on the look and feel of the event; or organising logistics like transportation and catering.
New
Costume Technician
Level 3
12-15 Months
A Costume Technician Apprentice supports the creation, maintenance & fitting of costumes for theatre, film, and television productions.
Their training covers fabric selection, garment construction, tailoring, and alterations, enabling them to contribute to the building of costumes that meet both the creative vision and functional requirements of the production.
New
Hair, Wigs, Make-Up and Prosthetics Technician
Level 3
15-18 Months
This occupation is found in a broad range of vibrant, creative & dynamic industries for example theatre, TV, film, fashion, commercials and print media (editorial).
These skilled specialists design, create, and apply hairpieces, makeup, and prosthetics for a variety of artistic and performance settings. These technicians play a vital role in transforming performers and bringing characters to life across diverse creative industries.
New
Scenic Aprenticeships
We are developing a range scenic apprenticeships standards in collaboration with National Theatre.
Scenic Artist
Supports the design and creation of painted backdrops, textures & finishes for theatre, film, and television sets.
Scenic Automation
Supports the design and creation of painted backdrops, textures & finishes for theatre, film, and television sets.
Scenic Constuction
Supports the design and creation of painted backdrops, textures & finishes for theatre, film, and television sets.
Our Approach
As an organisation, we have a history of making a significant impact in the creative sector. Founded to provide opportunities to train young creatives’ skills and thinking, so they could earn a living from their creative practice and thinking. To this day, this founding objective is still at the core of what we do.
By collaborating with an expansive network, we have successfully opened doors for aspiring talent. In particular, in backstage theatre and events industry, Our partnerships with esteemed organisations like Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Royal Ballet, National Theatre, B:MUSIC and Ambassador Theatre Group have been instrumental in shaping the careers of countless apprentices.
Support is at the heart of every one of our apprenticeships and is provided for ALL throughout the entire process. From our in-house recruitment team assisting with job descriptions, advertising, application screening, and pre-interviews. To our expert coaches tailoring every apprenticeship to the needs of the organisation and learner, including but not limited to, instilling skills critical for your organisation or identifying key areas of support the learner needs to succeed.
Hear firsthand from Archie about their experiences and the support they’ve received during their journey:
We are committed to making careers in backstage theatre and event production accessible to all. Through initiatives like the Skills Bootcamps, we offer free, intensive courses designed to equip individuals with sector-specific skills and boost employability. We have also tailored our recruitment process for specific roles to ensure opportunities reach and remove barriers for underrepresented groups and individuals from underprivileged backgrounds.
We are constantly reviewing our practises and working with our network to ensure our industry is at the forefront of diversity and inclusion.
Innovation drives our organisation and our network forward. Recently we have expanded our apprenticeship offerings to include specialised roles such as Hair, Wigs, Makeup & Prosthetics Technician, Scenic Artist, and Costume Technician for Stage & Screen.
By staying ahead of industry trends and collaborating with leading organisations, ensures our apprentices and employers receive cutting-edge training, preparing them for successful careers in the ever-evolving world of backstage theatre and event production. For employers, this means building a highly skilled talent pool that brings fresh ideas, technical expertise, and creative problem-solving to their productions. By investing in apprenticeships, businesses not only shape the future workforce but also strengthen their own teams with dedicated, well-trained professionals.
Trusted & Recommended
“Working with Creative Alliance has been a game changer for how we take on apprentices at Global“
Aimee Barby
Talent Development Manager at Global Media & Entertainment
“From initial brief through to our recruitment event and eventually onboarding our learners – the process and support has been brilliant.”
Iona McDonald
We’ve worked with Creative Alliance since BBJ&K was founded 7 years ago, as we believe in growing talent and shaping futures within our organisation…in some instances, developed previous apprentices through to director level; so we really believe in the apprenticeship program.
Emma Baxter
BUILD THE FUTURE THE INDUSTRY
Invest in new or existing talent – Develop skilled professionals who will enhance and drive your organisation forward.