PROPEL is our paid work placement programme for early-career producers and production managers
PROPEL returns for 2024 and this opportunity is now open to anyone interested in developing their career as a producer.
This year, we’re not just inviting you to gain experience through our paid placements; we’re equipping you with training to supercharge your skills and ensure you make the most of every moment in your placement. This is your chance to launch the next steps of your creative career with PROPEL!
To see the full range of placements available through this programme, head to our PROPEL page.
Who is it for?
Early-career producers connected to Bradford
When is it?
50-day placement starting in April 2024
Where is it?
Sheffield Theatres, Crucible, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA
Apply by
Sunday 11 February at 11 PM
Book your place at our online info session
Book your place at our online info session on Tuesday 6 February 2024 from 3 – 4 PM. If you cannot attend at this time, book a place and we’ll send you a link to a recording of the session.
About the placement host
Sheffield Theatres are the world-famous Crucible – a Sheffield landmark with a distinctive stage and a reputation for unforgettable productions; the Playhouse – an intimate, versatile space for getting even closer to the action; and the Lyceum – the gleaming traditional proscenium arch theatre that hosts the best of the UK’s touring shows. They host big names and local heroes, blockbuster musicals and captivating dramas, new plays and timeless treasures, new voices and long-term friends.
What will I get out of the placement?
Through this placement, you will:
- be paid £160 per day for around 50 days of work – that’s £8000 in total
- receive producer training from LVL/UP
- gain hands-on experience working with professional producers to deliver high-quality events
- have a dedicated external ‘line manager’ to provide regular professional advice and support to ensure your development opportunities are maximised
- have access to additional support and training through Bradford Producing Hub
- have access to the Make Something Happen fund – £1000 to develop an idea either with your host organisation or in your own practice
- attend a Go & See trip with the other placement candidates to inspire your work
When will this placement take place?
The placement will take place over the below schedule, though the host has some flexibility to accommodate the needs of the successful candidate. They are also open to a mixture of onsite and remote working.
Placement dates:
- 22 April – 21 July – 16 days across this period (flexible)
- 5 – 18 August – 2 days per week (4 days)
- 19 August – 1 September – 3 days per week (6 days)
- 2 September – 26 September – full time (20 days)
- 1 additional day to participate in full team evaluation/ reflection session (date tbc)
About the placement
This placement is for early-career producers, Sheffield Theatres are also hosting a Production Management placement.
The successful candidate will work alongside the in-house Producer and Assistant Producer to deliver a new version of a classic play for Sheffield Theatres autumn 2024 season in The Crucible theatre.
Working alongside the Producer and Assistant Producer, the successful candidate will:
- Liaise with artists and companies around planning logistics and requirements
- Support the Producer with key planning documents, risk assessments, and building schedules and deliverables
- Support contracting
- Support the Production Manager and Producer to work within the planned parameters of the production – including all key design dates
- Negotiate and arrange spaces and permissions for any work needed around the rehearsal spaces or theatre
- Work with the Production Manager to gather tech and production requirements for the shows
- Support the creative and production teams to deliver a high-quality piece of work
- Assist with meetings throughout the process and if/where appropriate, take leadership in certain areas of the production process
- View other productions at different stages in their production processes and assist the Producer and Assistant Producer with tasks to get an overview of what a typical season looks like for the producing and production team
You are eligible for the PROPEL work placement programme if:
- You have a demonstratable connection to Bradford
- You will be 18 years old or over when the programme starts
- You are available to undertake the required training to undertake the placement (or let us know if you have already undertaken equivalent training with us)
- You are committed to pursuing a career in producing or production management
- You are proactive and eager to learn and make the most of this opportunity
- You are ready to get involved and get hands-on as part of the host organisation’s team
- You are organised with your time and able to follow instructions
- You have good admin skills and are able to use email and Microsoft Word and Excel
- You can fully commit to this opportunity and are available for the dates listed on the host page (if you can do the majority but there are a couple of dates that you can’t do, please speak to us as there may be some flexibility in these cases)
If you wish, you can apply for a placement with multiple organisations – you will only be selected for and offered a place with one.
- Download our application form
- Send the application form to hello@bdproducinghub.co.uk along with your CV by the closing date
- The host organisation will also read your application if you are shortlisted
- You will be interviewed by the host organisation and BPH together – the interview will last no more than 60 minutes, we will keep this as relaxed as possible and there will be chance for you to ask questions too
- Once you are offered a place, you’ll have a kick-off meeting with BPH and the host organisation to confirm dates and everything around the placement
- You’ll also have a meeting with BPH where we will talk about external ‘line management’ and the other support available to you
- BPH will issue you with a freelance contract and confirm how and when your fee will be paid
- The host organisation will contact you to arrange the welcome and induction process
If you require any access support for this application process, please get in touch with us and we will support you. Email hello@bdproducinghub.co.uk
You will have a senior contact at your host organisation who will provide support and supervise you day-to-day. You will also have support and check-ins from BPH.
Additionally, you will be paired with an ‘external line manager’ – this is someone highly experienced who is separate to both organisations and who:
- Will help you to think about what you want to get out of this placement and make the best of it
- You can go to for advice and support about the work you’re doing through the placement or other things you’re working on
- Can support you with project planning, time management, and balancing priorities
- Will be a friendly and encouraging sounding board and share top tips from their own experience
This is a fund of up to £1000 that you can access to do something either with your host organisation or in your own work that will build on the skills and experience you have gained through the placement.
BPH and the host organisation will work with you and support you to think about what this should be, but it could be things like:
- The costs for running a mini-event that you lead with your host organisation programme e.g. audience welcome event, post-show talk, curtain raiser, community exhibition
- Doing something new or different that will benefit your development and wouldn’t happen otherwise e.g. putting in place a relaxed performance
- Learning new skills or increasing your knowledge e.g. covering the costs to hire and learning how to use some new equipment to enhance a performance or event
What training is involved?
If you have not completed previous producer training with Bradford Producing Hub, you must complete the LVL/UP producer training ahead of your placement. If you have completed previous BPH producer training, you’re welcome to join this training to prepare you for your placement.
Producer training details:
LVL/UP Intensive
Monday 4 March
9 AM – 5 PM
Online
This training is fully-funded by Bradford Producing Hub.
How to apply
To apply, please complete our application form which you can download below.
Please send your completed application form and your CV to hello@bdproducinghub.co.uk by Sunday 11 February at 11 PM.
We will be sending invitations to interview on Wednesday 14 February and interviews will take place on Tuesday 20 February.
If you would prefer to use a Google Docs version of this application, you can make a copy of this here.
If you have any questions, or you need to complete your application another way, please email us at hello@bdproducinghub.co.uk.
FAQs
You will be paid a freelance fee of £160 per day for approx. 50 days. That’s around £8000 in total.
You will have a freelance contract with BPH and we will arrange to pay you the fee. You will be responsible for paying any tax or National Insurance due as part of it. (If you are new to freelancing we can help you understand this).
Yes, we can provide support to meet your access needs and there is budget available towards travel, as well as for accommodation if occasional overnights are required.
There will be an online information session (date above) where we’ll talk more about the placement, what to expect and answer any questions you might have.
However, you should also do your own research about them through looking at their websites and social media feeds to familiarise yourself.
Yes, but you will only be offered one place. If you apply for multiple, we will make a decision on what we think would be the best fit. Please be aware however, that there are staggered application dates for some placements.
Yes, please get in touch with us so we can support you – hello@bdproducinghub.co.uk
