Future Yard and The Learning Foundry team up to launch new training programme

Future Yard, a new community music venue in Birkenhead, has joined forces with The Learning Foundry, an Ofsted-Good rated local training provider, to support young people into careers in live events and the live music industry.

All music venues, theatres and clubs need skilled people to make their events happen, including sound and lighting engineers and event managers, all the way up to massive stadiums and festivals.

The new Sound Check training and employment programme is the first of its’ kind to be delivered at Future Yard. It is designed to introduce 16 to 24-year-olds from across Liverpool City Region to a range of job roles and the skills needed to build a career in live event production over a period of 18 weeks.

The free to attend programme is made up of study, alongside real-life work experience at Future Yard, to gain hands-on skills at live events. Learners will work towards an Arts Award qualification and will develop employability skills to support them to progress into an apprenticeship, a job, or further study in the live music industry.

The learning focuses on two areas; Technical Production and Live Music Event Management and boasts a broad range of expert and guest speakers from across the industry. At the end of the programme learners will complete an Independent Group Project, in which they will showcase their new skills to deliver a live event at Future Yard.

Credit: Future Yard

Future Yard Co-founder, Craig G Pennington, said:

“Sound Check is a vital part of our skills and training offer at Future Yard, giving young people pathways into the live music industry and inspiring the next generation to turn their passion in to a career. We’re incredibly excited about working with The Learning Foundry on this new training programme, which will allow us to work with even more passionate music lovers from the area and show them about the career prospects that are available in the live events sector. All you need to get started is a love of music, and we’ll show you the rest.”

Jo Abraham, Managing Director at The Learning Foundry, said:

“We’re delighted to be working with Future Yard on this exciting new programme. After the pandemic young people are thinking differently about their futures and are exploring different career opportunities in new sectors. We’re passionate about making talent shine and helping individuals pursue vibrant, lifelong careers. Future Yard is the perfect partner to help us do this for young people interested in live music across the Liverpool City Region.”

The programme is open to 16-24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training. We are looking for local young people with a passion for live music and an interest in making it their career. No previous experience is required. 

Sound Check starts on 25^th April 2022. Sessions take place Monday to Thursday, 10am – 5pm, for 18 weeks at Future Yard. There will also be occasional additional sessions outside of these times when working on live events.

Applications close on Wednesday 20^th April 2022 at midday.

For more information, and to apply, visit The Learning Foundry website here.