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 production manager with the amazing Deer Shed Festival.
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 production managers connected to Bradford
When is it?
50+ day placement from May - August 2024
Where is it?
Near Thirsk
Apply by
Sunday 17 March at 11 PM
Book your place at our online info session
Book your place at our online info session on Monday 11 March from 12–1 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
Set in the beautiful North Yorkshire parkland, Deer Shed is an independent festival presenting 3 days of the best in music, food, arts and science suitable for all the family.
What will I get out of the placement?
Through this placement, you will
- be paid £160 per day for at least 50 days of work – that’s over £8000 in total
- receive either production management training from the Guildhall
- gain hands-on experience working with professional production managers 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. There is no flexibility around the week before, during, and after the festival. All work must be done on site, either at the festival offices in Rainton, near Thirsk, or at the festival site – Queen Mary’s School, Topcliffe, near Thirsk.
N.B. The Deer Shed offices are not easily accessible by public transport so the successful candidate will need to have access to a car for this placement.
Placement dates:
- 27 May to 14 July – 4 days per week (Mon – Fri , 9-5)
- 15 July to 28 July (1 week) – 6 days (Mon – Sat)
- 22 July to 28 July – this is festival week (1 week) – 7 days
- w/c 29 July – 4 days
About the placement
- Supporting the Head of Production, you will be part of a core team delivering a weekend music and arts festival from the 26 to 29 July 2024. This will include a mixture of indoor work in our offices and outside, onsite at the festival. This role centres around ensuring the smooth running of the festival from a production perspective. You’ll play a key role in the production journey before, during, and after the festival.
Duties include:
- Working with the Festival Director to manage music commissions, artist liaison admin and itineraries.
- Reviewing all DSF documentation regarding artists, retailers, vendors and volunteers.
- Assisting Production/Artist Executive Director in paperwork and communication of arts/theatre performers and associations.
- General office support including admin, spreadsheets, answering phone calls and filling to support the Head of Production.
- Generate information spreadsheets for vendors onsite, alongside supporting on collecting information from vendors.
- Research and manage shopping items list for the festival, including receipts.
- Monitoring the delivery process and assigning items bought to their department, all must be labelled and easy to access.
- Sending out performer tickets and guest tickets.
- Inputting into the festival database system (Bubob) and learn how to navigate this quickly and efficiently.
- Attending afternoon onsite Event Management meetings over the festival Proper. You will also monitor the Production Office throughout the weekend, assuming responsibility of the area in the absence of the Head of Production.
- Responsibility for all crew radios and being responsible for logging each handset in/out throughout the weekend.
- Managing the junior runners – driving a golf buggy around site to take people/equipment to different areas.
- All work must be done on site at the Deer Shed office in Rainton, near Thirsk, or at the festival site – Queen Mary’s School, Topcliffe, near Thirsk.
- BPH will contribute towards travel expenses.
- You will take a 30min break for lunch per day. Please bring a packed lunch with you as there is no shop nearby – we do have kitchen facilities with a microwave.
- Please ensure you are wearing appropriate workwear, comfortable shoes – on site you will need clothing appropriate for all weather conditions.
- Accommodation will be provided during the festival (Thursday 25 July – Monday 29 July 2024). This will be in a dorm in Queen Mary’s School. Food will also be provided during these dates.
- During the week of the festival it is expected that the candidate will be working from a mixture of our office and the festival venue.
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 production management training with Bradford Producing Hub, you must complete the Guildhall training alongside your placement. If you have completed previous BPH production management training, you’re welcome to join this training to help you get the most from your placement.
Production Management training details:
Guildhall Introduction to Event and Production Management
24 April, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May and 29 May
6.30 to 8.30 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 17 March at 11 PM.
We will be sending invitations to interview on Wednesday 20 March and interviews will take place on Tuesday 26 March – so please pencil this date in your diary on application.
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 at least 50 days. That’s over £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 the host organisations will talk about what they do and their placement.
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
