Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with schools to promote technical theatre skills as a valid career path.

The department works with The Careers & Enterprise Company to support schools and colleges to embed best practice so that young people are aware of the full range of careers, including technical theatre roles, and have access to meaningful encounters with a range of employers and workplaces.

The department funds Careers Hubs which lead partnerships of secondary schools, colleges, employers, Local Enterprise Partnerships, local authorities, and careers providers to help young people connect closely to local skills and economic needs through a responsive careers education programme. Through this network, schools can make links with employers from a wide range of sectors who are working with schools and colleges to improve careers education to help young people make informed choices and develop the skills they need and employers want.

Employers can register their interest to support schools and colleges, for example through the Enterprise Adviser Network or as a Cornerstone Employer, via The Careers & Enterprise Company’s website. This website is available here: https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/employers/become-a-cornerstone-employer/. Cornerstone Employers are a flagship group of employers from a range of sectors that work with networks of schools and colleges to improve careers education and make sure key skills for their sector are understood by teachers and education leaders.

In addition, The National Careers Service, a free, government-funded careers information, advice and guidance service draws on a range of labour market information to support and guide individuals. The service website gives customers access to a range of useful digital tools and resources to support them, including ‘Explore Careers’ which has information on more than 130 industry areas and more than 800 job profiles. This includes a range of technical theatre roles, describing what those roles entail, qualifications and entry routes.