Written by: Natalie Thomas
January 2026
Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) is joining organisations across Plymouth to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2026, which shines a spotlight on the vital role apprentices play in building skills, confidence and careers across the city.
TRP is proud to support National Apprenticeship Week and to recognise the contribution of its Apprentices, who work across the organisation while developing industry-relevant skills and qualifications. Apprenticeships offer a practical, inclusive route into employment, combining real-world experience with training and development at every stage of a career.
National Apprenticeship Week in Plymouth is supported by a programme of events led by Skills Launchpad Plymouth and the Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Careers Hub, showcasing the breadth of local apprenticeship and early-career opportunities available to people of all ages.
Here are just a few of our Apprentices talking about their experiences:
Aleysha Hamlyn, HR Support, Level: 3
“I currently work in Business Support and have been supporting the People team alongside completing my Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship. This has given me a great understanding of organisational structures and helped me develop my knowledge of TRP and how the People team supports the wider organisation, while gaining practical HR experience that also strengthens my skills and confidence in my role as a Business Support Officer”
Kayleigh Hewitt, Creative Industries Production Technician, Level: 3
“I consider myself lucky to have been granted the opportunity of this Apprenticeship. Even in the short amount of time I’ve been a part of it, I have learned so much about the technical world and made so many connections with other Mackintosh Apprentices experiencing the same process as I am. Everyone has so been so helpful and kind in taking the time to teach me various skills whilst on the job. As someone who learns better through hands-on work, this Apprenticeship has provided the perfect balance between on-the-job training and academic coursework/online classroom teaching. Essentially, it provides me with a solid and varied education in technical theatre, and an accurate depiction of what life in a technical job would be like”
Ben Earl, Property Maintenance Operative, Level: 2
“I have really enjoyed my time with the theatre as an Apprentice. I have been able to work on things I never thought I would. The team are fantastic and they have really helped me to become all that I am today. I feel confident and able to do my job role because of them. I cannot thank the Estates team and the theatre enough for putting the time and effort into me, believing I could become more than I thought possible. I am very proud to become an engineer and be part of Theatre Royal Plymouth.”
Hayley Deacon, Senior people professional, Level: 7
“The Level 7 Senior Professional Apprenticeship has been an exceptional development opportunity. As a Master’s-level qualification, it offered an opportunity that would not have been possible for me outside of the Apprenticeship route. It has strengthened my strategic thinking, leadership capability, and professional confidence, while enabling me to apply learning directly in my role, bringing new ideas that help to support employees at TRP”.
David Davidson, Welder, Level 2
“I have found it beneficial; the written side has taught me things I wouldn’t have learnt from the practical side alone. I do feel more confident in my work. I found certain parts of it really challenging but I feel very valued for having been put through it.”
Felix Soper, Welder, Level 2
“I feel the Apprenticeship is benefiting me because I’ve been working with TR2 and TRP for almost almost a decade now and I’ve learned a lot of things here. The benefit of this Apprenticeship is that those skills are then transferable in a way that they wouldn’t have been before. So those Welding Fabricating skills will be transferable to other industries or other workshops, if I ever needed it, and I’m learning more and more every day about the processes involved.”
Matilda Carruthers, Welder, Level 2
“The Apprenticeship will benefit my job and broaden my career horizons. It will help me to know more about the construction and welding side in theatre.”
Laura McPherson, Level 5 People Professional
“Completing my Level 5 People Professional Apprenticeship has been a really positive experience. It’s helped me build my knowledge and confidence in HR and apply what I’ve learned in my day-to-day work. I’ve developed practical skills in people management and gained a better understanding of how to think more strategically, which has supported my professional growth and future development in the people profession”.
Find out more about how the DPT Careers Hub is linking education and employers to support people’s careers in the region: https://www.dptcareershub.co.uk/