We are Wales Millennium Centre - Fire for the Imagination
Role Title: Technical Apprentice (Sound bias) (12-Month FTC)
Salary: £13,741 (35hrs per week)
Closing Date: W/c Interview Date: W/c
Starting date: April 1st, 2025
*This role is solely funded by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, only applications residing in this borough is eligible to apply. Individuals with a degree in a relating subject, will also not be considered. *
About WMC/Our Department:
As one of the UK’s most iconic and celebrated arts venues, part of our success story is down to our commitment to giving people the opportunity to develop and thrive.
We do this by supporting emerging Welsh talent with life-changing learning experiences, professional workshops, and technical apprenticeships. We currently have technical apprentices based here at the centre, but also at partner organisations across Wales. The Technical Apprentice (Sound bias) is a new role and is the first step in our plans for expanding work-based learning opportunities at other departments at the centre. We are excited to offer an apprenticeship that sits within our Arts and Creative and Technical team, who are responsible for our Youth Programme, Platfform, all of our in-house productions, digital and immersive work, exhibitions and our Community Programme.
Our current Technical Apprentices (Stage bias) have recently completed placements on visiting touring productions like Wicked, and have supported several self-produced shows such as Pontypool and The Nutcracker Cabaret. The Technical Apprentice (Sound bias) will focus on community, youth led engagements and commercial events; such as Unity Festival, Next Up Academy and Bute Town Carnival but may also have the opportunity to work onstage on West End touring and original productions.
For more about the apprentice scheme visit - https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/what-we-do/careers-and-jobs/technical-apprenticeships.
Your role may be subject to a DBS check
About the Role and Responsibilities:
*This role is solely funded by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, only applications residing in this borough is eligible to apply. Individuals with a degree in a relating subject, will also not be considered. *
The Arts and Creative team are at an exciting point of development with the launch of our new Youth-led Platfform spaces. Platfform facilities are state of the art creative, performance and social spaces for young creatives to engage with Wales Millennium Centre. Young creatives will have the opportunity to collaboratively & proactively practice their craft as part of their membership. The apprentice will collaborate with the creative learning team on our Next Up Academy Production & other events across the year.
Each year we invite applications from community groups and creatives to run events, workshops, exhibitions and community performances from Wales Millennium Centre. This apprentice will work with the team will support many of these to come to life.
The primary purpose of this role is to develop specialised and transferable skills in areas specific to the planning and delivery of live events, with an element of technical stage craft, lighting, and sound for live entertainment for those at the start of their careers.
On a day-to-day basis you will report to the Apprentice & Training Coordinator, who oversees the apprentice programme to ensure that individuals hit their practical and assessment targets. The coordinator is also responsible for your professional training schedule which will include trips away from base.
Over the 12-months, you will have completed a number of professional training workshops and certifications such as the ABTT Bronze Award, PAT Testing & CRISP IOSH qualification to name a few. You may also attend a trade show in the Spring/Summer. Though subject to training schedules, successful applicants should expect to work on events such as Llais, Butetown Carnival, Next Up Academy as well as multiple community and youth activities.
Key Requirements:
Applicants will need to be available to start on April 1st.
The working hours of an apprentice slightly vary from week-to-week, it really depends on the demands of the production they are working on. We must highlight that this is not a 9-5 role, therefore we encourage applicants to really think hard about whether this type of work is suitable for them should this be of conflict. We also encourage you to think about your travelling arrangements and whether it is feasible/viable for you at this point.
The criteria in which you will be evaluated on is relatively fluid. However, we do expect you to provide evidence of your understanding of backstage technical theatre and what areas specifically is of interest to you and why. You will need to show that you are able to learn or display good interpersonal and communication skills, as you will be working within a large organisation with people from differing backgrounds, viewpoints, and identities.
Finally, you ought to display evidence of a good attitude and willingness towards professional working, learning new skills, and progression of coursework.
What’s in it for you?
- 25 days of annual leave plus bank holiday, based on a 35-hour week, pro rata for part time.
- Enhanced pension scheme
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave (subject to length of service)
- Health cash plan: receive money towards dental and optical care, complimentary treatments such as chiropractic, osteopathic and acupuncture treatments.
- Medical Assistance membership which includes remote access to GP, counselling, and physiotherapy sessions
- Employee assistance programmes which include access to support services for legal, financial, and family concerns
- Life assurance of 4x annual salary.
- Opportunity to apply for tickets to productions
- CLWB – Our employee social group
- NEWID – our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion networking group who meet monthly to discuss new ideas and training opportunities to improve all aspects of employment at WMC.
- Free access to learn Welsh online
- £5 all-day parking available on working and non-working days.
At Wales Millennium Centre, our commitment to diversity and inclusion goes beyond words; it is a fundamental aspect that guides our actions. Adhering to the principles outlined in Section 158 of the Equality Act 2010, we actively embrace positive action in our recruitment and selection processes. Recognising the underrepresentation of specific groups, particularly individuals with disabilities, and those from Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse backgrounds, within our workforce, we have implemented proactive measures to address this disparity.
Through our positive action approach, applicants of our advertised roles from these underrepresented groups, meeting the minimum criteria detailed in the role profile, will be shortlisted for interview selection. Our commitment extends beyond meeting legal obligations; we aspire to cultivate a workplace that authentically embraces the rich diversity of our global society.