As work progresses on The Factory, Manchester’s world-class arts space, Manchester International Festival (MIF) has today announced Factory Futures – a new skills and training programme which is set to benefit up to 10,000 unemployed young people living in Greater Manchester over the next five years.
It is part of The Factory Academy, which was launched by MIF in 2018, in partnership with a consortium of cultural organisations in the city. The aim is to diversify the workforce in an important sector for the region – annually, the creative industries are worth more than £100 billion to the economy.
Factory Futures responds directly to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth unemployment and has been designed to align with the Government’s recently announced Kickstart scheme.
Over the next five years, it will see 1,400 young people, aged 19-24, who are unemployed or on Universal Credit, take part in a range of pre-employment training programmes including training academies, work experience programmes, traineeships and paid internships. Thousands more will benefit from further learning and engagement opportunities including online learning, masterclasses, open days and workshops.
Over the next year, opportunities for 140 young people will start with a two-week creative training academy in October which will provide key digital skills, behind-the-scenes insights, and guidance from industry experts. In January 2021, ten young people will have the chance to undertake a six-month paid internship with MIF in roles such as Sponsorship, Press, Producing, Marketing, Operations, Creative Engagement and Artist Liaison.
Further opportunities will include traineeship and work experience programmes.
Around 60 young people have already benefited from the Factory Academy, including five apprenticeships delivered in partnership with Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), HOME and The Lowry. Through principal contractor Laing O’Rourke and their supply chain, The Factory is also creating up to 50 construction apprenticeships. In addition, once The Factory opens, it is projected to generate as many as 1,500 direct and indirect jobs for the city.
“We’re putting skills and training opportunities at the heart of The Factory. Through The Factory Academy, young people from Manchester and the city region are already gaining valuable experience as an entry point for the creative industries, which are an increasingly important part of our city’s economy. Over the next five years we’re creating thousands of new training opportunities – including roles as part of the MIF team as we prepare for next year’s Festival.”
(John McGrath, Artistic Director and Chief Executive at MIF and The Factory)
At 13,300 square metres, The Factory is a world-class cultural space being developed in the centre of Manchester, which will commission and present the world’s most exciting artists, attracting up to 850,000 visitors a year, from across the city, the UK and internationally.
The Factory has received funding from HM Government which has been managed by Arts Council England. This is an additional investment that would not have otherwise been available for the cultural sector or the region.
To secure a place on the initial Factory Futures Training Academy, applicants must attend a virtual Open Day on Wednesday 21 October. For more information and to register for a place, click here.
