Placements fast track Management career

A Management degree student at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) says their third-year industry placement enabled them to fast track their theatre management career. For another, the placement has confirmed a career in music management is right for them. Thanks to the placement, both have jobs lined up. 

Rhianna Swyer spent three months at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester. She started as assistant venue manager but was soon working as production assistant on Hope Mill’s in-house production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. At the end of the placement Rhianna was offered a permanent position as an assistant producer.  

Rhianna says it came as a complete surprise. “I was really shocked. I was really hoping I’d get an opportunity to work for them, but I never hoped to get offered a job like this. 

“I definitely wouldn’t have got it without the placement. To be honest, I’m not sure if I would have applied for a job like this as I didn’t think I was quite at that level yet, but over three months I was able to show them what I was capable of. I’m made up!” 

All students on the Management degree undertake a three-month industry placement at the start of their third-year. For Rhianna it was an opportunity to pursue a long-held ambition to work in theatre production. However, for Izzy Akers – who's been offered a full-time role at Sentric Music Publishing after her placement there – it was a chance to discover more about music management and whether it was right for her. 

Izzy says the three months were invaluable. “I’ve always had an interest in music, but I didn’t know if I wanted to work in the music industry, so I approached the placement with an open mind as I’m also interested in theatre management and event management. 

“When I was at Sentric I had a proper chance to find out what the industry was really like, and I loved it.” 

Izzy’s placement was in Sentric’s rights’ team. She currently works part-time for them and starts her fulltime job later this year. “Everyone there is very approachable and happy to answer any questions you have about the industry. It made settling in very easy. I can’t wait to start full-time and take on more responsibility.” 

Head of Management Dave Wibberley says: “The Placement module is the flagship of our Management degree. Year after year it enables our students to gain three months of real experience in a professional, creative industries environment and year after year our students do so well on their placement that they get offered jobs by their host organization.  

“Over the past two years we’ve seen students, just like Rhianna and Izzy, get full time jobs after completing their placement at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre, the Isle of Wight Festival and Modern Sky Records. It’s one of the things that makes LIPA so special for students.” 

LIPA’s Management course has recently changed its name to BA (Hons) Management for the Creative Industries and Performing Arts. You can find out more here.