Apprenticeship Week Wales

Organised by the Welsh Government, the week was an opportunity to highlight the wide range of creative opportunities available, and the value they give to employers and learners throughout Wales. It was also an excellent opportunity for us at Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru to raise awareness of apprenticeships in Wales and the variety of creative posts that are available.

We supported the celebrations for the second time in 2021 and, following the success of the previous year, we were happy to highlight further opportunities in the arts. In 2020, a technical presentation was provided to schools in Wales. Due to COVID restrictions, the 2021 sessions took place remotely, with an on-line presentation in both Welsh and English giving a taste of what is available in the field of theatre and the creative industries in Wales. The resource, which includes closed captions in both Welsh and English, was made available to all secondary schools in Wales.

The presentation included interviews with Angharad Davies (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s ex-Head of Production) and Morgan James (a former Technical Apprentice with the company), as well as an introduction to the opportunities available in the television and film industries presented by Sue Jeffries (Managing Director of Sgil Cymru) and Zahra Errami, who is now a journalist at ITV after training through a Sgil Cymru apprenticeship scheme. The presentation also included a creative workshop with the composer and sound designer Dan Lawrence, who demonstrated what music and sound can add to a theatre production.

2021 was the second consecutive year for us at Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru to take part in Apprenticeship Week Wales. In 2021, we hosted workshops for Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd in Maesteg and Bryntirion Comprehensive in Bridgend offering opportunities for pupils to learn about careers in the creative industries and hear about the experience of being an apprentice. 

Watch the video below to learn more about the 2020 sessions: