SpartanCrew,Elation,NEKOTrust andGallowglass.

talent pool. Either by offering assistance and guidance should they wish to enter the freelance market; suitable full-time positions within PRG EMEA or a further level of training and development through PRG’s Event Services team, which would result in becoming trainee Event Services technicians. “We are always looking to tap into the next generation of talent. After the devastating effect of COVID-19 across the live events industry and its talent pool, we recognise the huge opportunity we have before us to engage with younger people, who have been widely negatively affected by the pandemic. Over the past few years, PRG has sought several avenues to find raw talent locally and to inspire individuals who embody our company values to get their start with PRG,” Leigh Yeomans, Head of People Services at PRG, said. “PRG has a long history of working with and sponsoring industry education partners throughout the UK, including the BRIT School, Birmingham Ormiston Academy and several other local and national higher and further education organisations,” he added. “These relationships are at the heart for our ongoing mission to inspire a diverse and inclusive talent pool of prospective PRG applicants.” According to Yeomans, PRG is building a pool of homegrown talent from local communities through apprenticeships, work experience opportunities and school sponsorships. “We are passionate about providing opportunities for young people from all walks of life to realise their potential, ultimately demonstrating that they can have a career in our industry,” he remarked. Max Reynolds, Rigging Specialist in Event Services at PRG UK added: “Apprenticeships create an option to gain hands-on experience with the assurance that the knowledge gained is being carefully audited to be correct and appropriate to the skill set. Our apprenticeships also give the assurance that the knowledge can be gained safely and in a controlled environment that considers the apprentices lack of experience.” This practical application is overseen and demonstrated by PRG’s roster of industry specialists, creating a natural mentorship within the team and imparting key lessons on operating in a team and adapting to changing team dynamics and environments. “A common outcome of onsite learning is the understanding that a project can live or die by the strength of communication within a team,” Reynolds explained. “Only by working with other people on a task can you understand how important it really is.” As the landscape for live events continues to improve, PRG will adapt to new avenues of recruitment as the need for different roles increases; including apprentices, work experience placements, targeted recruitment for skilled positions and incentivising current staff to refer. “For every singular person on a stage, there is an army of people behind it making the show a reality,” Yeomans concluded. “The event industry is full of people who live and breathe entertainment and the PRG team is certainly representative of that. We’re looking for young people who share in our drive, passion and obsession for the industry and encourage anyone looking to get into the business to share their experience with us.” Discover more information about apprenticeship opportunities at www.prg.com/uk/en. For enquiries and application details, contact PRG UK at ukhr@prg.com

Production Futures successfully kicks off the first leg of its brand new UK tour at live events venue Depot Mayfield, Manchester and London’s Rose Bruford College.

Students, graduates, young entrepreneurs and freelancers across all disciplines of entertainment and production industries took advantage of the training workshops, networking and career opportunities on offer at Production Futures ON TOUR.

Both events saw major international players Avolites, Sennheiser, Neumann, ChamSys, CHAUVET Professional, disguise, Shure, Brompton Technology, Production Park, NEXO and Vectorworks showcase products with others running training with careers workshops from Interfacio.

Creative Directors, Tim Routledge, Willie Williams, Nick Whitehouse, Bran Vaughan and Audio Engineer, Simon Honywill also shared their insight and advice on how to establish long and successful careers.

Avolites Marketing Director, Andrew McKinlay commented: “We’ve always believed that young people are vital to our futures and we believe championing their skill development is extremely important to ensure we as an industry remain at its forefront and are the best in the world. The move by Production Futures this year to go on the road to get the live events industry to meet young people where they are studying, is a groundbreaking move and fundamental in attracting great talent and building relationships. We believe Production Futures will soon become students’ primary gateway into the industry.” 80six, Sterling Event Group, Engine No.4, FIX8Group, Pearce Hire, White Light, RSH Audio and Colour Sound Experiment shared their upcoming projects and work opportunities available for graduates and young entrepreneurs as well as offering summer placements and internships for students.

PSA, UK Music, ISCVE and NEKO Trust offered invaluable careers advice and insight to visitors, who travelled from across the UK.

Industry panels ran throughout both days on the main stage, where speakers were welcomed from the likes of Epic Games, National Theatre, Broadwick Live, Live Nation, No Nonsense Group, EFM Global Logistics, Neutral Human, Festival Insights, We are the Fair, Ethix Management, UKTV, Wise Owl Productions and Spiralstagelighting – covering various topics from entering the industry, hidden job roles, promoting transferrable skills and diversity, to the latest real-time technology in virtual production.

Neutral Human’s Sarah Cox commented: “We are all too aware of the huge skills shortage across the event technology industry and it’s not going to fix itself overnight. Production Futures is exactly what our industry needs, to inspire the next generation to look at what we can offer and the varied roles and pathways they could follow, to bring our profession out from the dark. A roadshow that tours the UK, is an inspired way to ensure we are making ourselves accessible up and down the country! I can’t wait for the next event.”

Rob Fowler, Director of Business Development at Brompton Technology, commented: “It’s been a tough two years for the production industry, but I still believe it’s an incredible industry in which to build a career, and I think Production Futures is a worthwhile initiative to help young people learn and find out what a role in our industry can offer them.” Social media was flooded with posts from attendees sharing their experiences and positive feedback of the events. Production Futures CEO, Hannah Eakins stated: “We feel very lucky to have been able to deliver these two events before the start of the Summer festival season and to begin this new chapter for Production Futures. The touring concept for the show has been challenging, but so well received by the tutors, students, freelancers and young people looking to start careers in the entertainment industry.

“The positivity and passion from our incredible partners, panellists and speakers has already created a community which feels very special and one that we can grow as we connect with more young people around the UK. To the hundreds of young visitors who joined us for both events, we thank them all for their enthusiasm and positivity.

“We were pleased to learn that some had commuted from all over the UK to join us. The talent that we have seen already is second to none and makes us all very excited for the future. It very much feels like 2016 again for us when we launched Production Futures so we are excited to keep growing our supporters and community throughout 2022.”

Production Futures has lots of other exciting events and projects in the pipeline, and perhaps most important of all is the relaunch of the TPi Breakthrough Awards this Summer. www.productionfutures.co.uk

SPARTAN CREW BROADENS ITS REACH IN THE UK

Crewing and staffing company, Spartan Crew branches out to the Midlands.

Words: Craig Strachan Photos: Spartan Crew

Spartan Crew has expanded its reach in the Midlands, with the launch of a new regional hub in Birmingham.

The project, led by Commercial Director, Paz Brennan, aims to target the thriving nationwide exhibition and entertainment market beyond the reach of its London HQ as the UK moves out of all COVID-19 restrictions. Staffarecurrentlybeingappointedfor thenewoffice,convenientlylocatednearby Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, less than one and a half miles from New Street Station.

“With the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and a host of major events happening in the city, we felt we could no longer ignore the possibilities,” said Brennan. Not familiar with sitting on the sidelines, Spartan Crew assembled its market research and commenced work on acquiring an officeandtrainingarea.AccordingtoBrennan, another draw is the proximity of Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC), which hosts several exhibitions featuring both prospective and current clients.

“Many of our current clients have a large presenceinBirmingham,sowewantedtooffer a more favourable solution,” he explained. TheStewardStreetofficewillfollowa similar blueprint to Spartan Crew’s London headquarters, incorporating a crew training area as part of the facility.

This ensures consistency to its production of improved crewing solutions, with a commitment to health and safety, performance and compliance.

However, it hasn’t been the easiest of journeys to get to this point. “We had a huge crew shortage at the back end of last year,” Brennanstated.“Withalackofconfidence in the industry, many crew, across all sectors in the industry, had gone on to work in other industries. This posed many challenges in terms of recruitment and training. We had to stepuptothechallenge,offeringamorerobust trainingprogramme.Asaresult,wecantrain 10 crew at a time, which we do twice a week in London, and once a week in Birmingham. With this comes more administration so we took on moreofficestaffandspacetomeetdemand.”

Spartan Crew’s new venture will allow the companytonotonlyoffermulti-sitecrewing solutions to keep up with current demand, but also extend its services to new clients. This includes a larger reach across the UK along with a bigger roster of crew should it need to increase crew in either region. www.spartancrew.co.uk