Britannia Row Productions Training launches online courses

UK-based Britannia Row Productions Training (BRPT) has launched two new online courses after cancelling all of its live training in March 2020 due to the pandemic.

Funding from an Arts Council England Culture Recovery Grant has finally enabled the organisation to offer its Live Sound Fundamentals and Live Sound Intermediate courses online with 145 newly produced video lectures.

BRPT is encouraging applicants from diverse backgrounds to join take part in its new online training programmes.

“We anticipated having to wait for some semblance of post-pandemic normality before continuing our programmes in live sound, however, being awarded a Culture Recovery Grant was an amazing development,” said BRPT Managing Director Mike Lowe. “It has provided work and much-needed income for the sound engineers, technicians, camera ops, video directors and editors who have produced our online courses.”

With the gradual return of live events, the industry faces a skills shortage as many workers have retrained and left the industry as a result of the pandemic. 

“It is our hope that the BRPT online courses will provide a solution to the potential looming shortage of young people with the right skills and knowledge the events industry will need to re-enter the live sound industry,” said Lowe. “For people considering a career in concert and event audio, there has never been a better time to invest in acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge.”

The new online platform offers video lectures, course notes, quizzes and optional exams together with learner support that the live sound specialist hopes will generate a more accessible gateway into the professional audio industry.

The online courses are designed to prepare students to go into entry-level jobs and begin to gain practical experience with sound rental companies and music venues. 

BRPT hopes the the online format will make the courses more accessible as they can be fitted around any current work or lifestyle, regardless of their location. The organisation is also keen to boost diversity among its students and the future workforce. 

“Unlike the array of talent seen on stage, the live event production industry has always had a very high proportion of white cisgender workers,” said Lowe. “Due to this, we know that marginalised communities struggle to envision working in and becoming a part of the backstage industry. It’s our desire to help bring about change and encourage a much more diverse workforce going forwards. 

“At BRPT we have long welcomed and encouraged a range of students to join our audio courses and feel strongly about inclusivity going forwards. The industry is nowhere near as reflective of the talent we know is out there within minority groups, the LGBT+ community, female identifying and gender non-conforming workers. If you are from an under-represented group, have passion for live audio, music and events, and the desire to bring about change in this industry and beyond, BRPT would love to welcome you on board for this online training. 

“We encourage any interested parties to start their journey and become the leaders of tomorrow. The industry cannot progress and the world cannot change for the better without you finding your place in the job roles you may discover you excel in.”