First UK Ticketing Apprenticeship

In an industry leading collaboration, STAR and the National College Creative industries have developed a new ticketing apprenticeship, with support from The Ticket Factory as the first employer.

Melissa Halling (21) has been recruited by the leading ticketing company, owned by the NEC Group, to undertake the one-year apprenticeship.  Upon successful completion she will be the first recipient of the ‘Apprenticeship Standard in Customer Service Practitioner – Ticketing’.

Based at The Ticket Factory’s offices in Birmingham, the apprenticeship will rotate across various departments including sales, contact centre and Box Office, IT development, marketing and client services – with a further one month spent in the participants preferred area of study.  Additional off-the-job training via workshops, the compilation of an online e-portfolio and a final Apprentice Showcase will also form part of the assessment criteria.

The ticketing industry is evolving rapidly as new technologies are developed and adopted. Ticketing employers need trained and qualified people to ensure that they are able to benefit fully from the use of these technologies and provide first class service to all customers and clients.

Richard Howle, Director of Ticketing for The Ticket Factory said: “We are proud to support STAR and the National College Creative with this initiative in welcoming the UK’s first ticketing apprentice to the team.  We operate in a rapidly changing world, where customers demand the best and our team is passionate about driving new ideas and being at the cutting edge of innovation.  Ticketing is a brilliant industry which requires a broad range of skills and expertise and is full of opportunities. We are delighted to welcome Melissa, whose enthusiasm and desire to learn is infectious and we hope that this will be the start of a long and successful career in Ticketing.”

Jonathan Brown, Chief Executive of STAR added: “Our focus was to create a new apprenticeship that   would lead to a valuable industry qualification, plus one that would add real value to the employer.  Centred on real work competencies demonstrated in a real work environment, the aim is to drive quality and consistency through both on-the-job and off-the-job training.  We hope that this apprenticeship will open doors for many young, talented individuals and support them in forging an exciting career in this fast paced and creative industry.”

The announcement follows the recent addition of the first two UK arena electrical apprentices at the NEC Group Arenas; highlighting the dedication the Group has to people development in live events.