Backstage Academy supports jobs and growth in the entertainment industry

Interested in a career in the entertainment industry? Backstage Academy launches a diverse range of short courses tailored around essential skills for the live events production industry

(March 29th 2012, South Kirkby, Yorkshire, UK) – Backstage Academy, a new industry-led training centre designed to deliver high quality, relevant and practical training in different backstage skills, has launched a range of short courses for Spring 2012.

Based at the famous LS-Live rehearsal studios in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, the Academy benefits from its unique links to some of the world’s leading productions and production personnel, tailoring courses to suit the evolving demands of the sector. Courses take place in its state-of-the-art training centre and Apple Authorised Training Suite, adjacent to the studio where the likes of Kylie, Dizzee Rascal, P!nk, Robbie Williams, Lady Gaga and Tinie Tempah have all rehearsed.

Backstage Academy is perfectly positioned to handpick the best tutors in the business with a wealth of real life experience spanning the fields of concert production, TV, theatre, film and corporate hospitality.

The courses cover a range of backstage skills, from rigging and stage pyrotechnics, to the SPA Event Safety Passport (which everyone on site at the Olympics must have this year) and Apple based technologies like Pro Tools and Final Cut for audio and video editing.

Robin Watkinson, COO, Backstage Academy commented: “Britain is going to host many exciting events this summer what with the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics celebrations coming up and we’ve tailored a programme of courses that can help event organisers and crew ensure they have the skills to make their live event creative, dynamic and above all safe.”

The value of the events sector to the UK economy is expected to rise from £36.1 billion in 2011 to £48.4 billion in 2020* and the economic benefit of Meetings and Events from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is forecast to be £1.8 billion, reinforcing Britain as a world leader in the production of major events*. The Academy has designed its range of courses to support skills development and ensure the many people putting on events this year and into the future are fully qualified to do so.

Tony Powell, a student on the Stage Pyrotechnics course said: “It was a very useful course, we learnt a lot about different pyrotechnics, their uses and a lot of common sense things that you need to be reminded of. At the end of the day the group had to wire up some pyrotechnics in the big studio to be set off in a certain order. Everyone joined in to do the final show which was quite impressive!”

*  Britain for Events’ ‘Opportunities for Growth in the UK Events Industry’ report

*  Business Visits & Events Partnership’s ‘Meetings and Event Manifesto for Britain’

Short courses commence from mid April and run through until the end of May. In certain circumstances for group bookings, some of the short courses can be delivered off site. For more information, click here.