Getting industry placements right at the National Theatre

Introduction

This case study explains:

• How an employer is successfully delivering Creative and Design industry placements
• How employers can use industry placements to support social mobility
• How SMEs can work with larger employers to offer industry placements in the future

It also highlights how employers can start small-offering one or two placement routes - and expand over time, with a strong example of delivering multiple pathways as confidence and capacity grow.

Why did the National Theatre get involved in offering placements?

The National Theatre began offering T Level industry placements as part of its broader commitment to social mobility, workforce diversity and sector-wide skills development.

“Most of our entry-level recruits have been to university, so while the Theatre doesn’t see T Level industry placements as a direct recruitment tool, the team recognises their long-term value.

“We are giving young people an early and structured insight into backstage and technical roles, raising awareness of technical career pathways at a pivotal age – before students commit to higher education or full-time employment – and, ultimately, planting a seed that may grow into future interest in working for the Theatre, even if that only becomes relevant to the individual student years later.”

They also note that “All of the T Level students have come from communities that we haven't managed to engage previously – not even through apprenticeships.”

How did the National Theatre get approval from senior leaders to run industry placements?

The decision to deliver T Levels was supported by the Theatre’s senior leadership making it easier to secure internal buy-in. “That said, we didn’t try to launch industry placements across every department at once. We started by identifying teams with existing capacity and enthusiasm. This meant beginning with business administration and IT placements before moving into more relevant technical theatre roles.

“Our advice is to focus on internal ‘allies’ for the first placements, as this will give you a better chance of long-term success. Essentially, if one team makes a success of it, other teams will look at industry placements and go ‘oh, that's interesting – maybe we could have a go at it’.”

What advice do you have on working with a school or college to setup an industry placement programme?

Working with a supportive provider made all the difference. “The UTC handled safeguarding responsibilities and supported all of the practical arrangements. This helped reassure internal teams and mitigated some of the perceived risks of taking on under-18s. Staff were particularly concerned about safeguarding, so having the provider clearly take responsibility in this area helped create buy-in.”

There was also flexibility from the UTC to adapt the delivery model over time – for instance, allowing industry placements to be block release rather than one day a week, and agreeing to delay industry placements until students had gained more relevant knowledge through their studies.

“Working with a provider that is willing to adapt and develop an offer, over a period of time, has made it easier to learn as we go and provide meaningful, manageable experiences for both the Theatre and the students.”

What advice do you have around managing the placements?

The team at the National Theatre keep regular contact with both the students and the UTC. They make a point of cc'ing the provider into all communication with the students to ensure safeguarding protocols are followed and everyone remains aligned. The provider also carries responsibility for attendance, punctuality and behavioural issues, which eases the burden on internal teams.

“Students receive informal check-ins as well as structured progress monitoring from the UTC. This helps address development needs and allows the UTC tutor to see where the students are working and what learning they might need back in the classroom to thrive on their placement. It works really well.”

What is the National Theatre doing to support more young people access creative and design industry placements?

The National Theatre is committed to continuing and expanding its involvement with T Levels and has ambitions to expand on its existing leadership role within the sector.

“We are in discussions with other creative organisations to support a collaborative approach. The team here sees enormous value in developing regional hubs to support creative T Levels – particularly in areas of the country where opportunities are more limited.”

For the National Theatre, the ultimate goal is about creating visibility, opening doors, and helping build a more inclusive and representative pipeline of talent for the Theatre and creative industries. Offering placements is a tangible way to make a difference.

“We want to step up and create some best practice that we can share with the sector – and say, yes, this bit’s hard, this bit’s easy, and these are the benefits. We think this will allow more young people, from a variety of backgrounds, to access the creative sector in the years to come.”