A group of eight students from Sandwell College got the chance to go behind the scenes of a stadium rock gig, as part of the college’s partnership with the National Skills Academy (NSA).
The Technical Theatre and Music Technology students shadowed Motorpoint Arena engineers as they set up lighting, sound and equipment ahead of American rock band, Halestorm’s concert in Nottingham.
This unique opportunity gave students hands-on experience in one of the region’s largest stadiums and was arranged by NSA and Steve Cheney, stage manager for Glastonbury Festival.
Sandwell College recently joined the NSA as a further education leadership college for its Creative and Cultural programme, which works to support skills development for those working in the arts. The college is the first in the Midlands to join the Leadership Group, with staff and students now having access to a network of creative professionals and a range of exciting opportunities.
As well as the activity at Nottingham Arena, young people from Sandwell College will have the chance to design sets for the Welsh National Opera and get involved with many more high-profile activities.
Michelle King, Head of Creative Industries at Sandwell College, said: “We have over 500 students in the creative sector. The creative and cultural industries are a major contributor to both the UK and regional economy and offer many employment opportunities for students as well as contributing socially.
“As the first Further Education college in the Midlands to join the National Skills Academy leadership group our learners are uniquely positioned to take advantage of fantastic opportunities to engage with industry professionals and develop employability skills as well as taking part in national projects to showcase their creativity.”
Find out more about the work the NSA does
