Scenic carpentry apprentice Review
at Royal Ballet and Opera
Level 2 Apprenticeship
Carpentry and Joinery
Purfleet
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
5 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
5/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
Working on my own or with others to create scenery out of timber & plywood and assemble. Sometimes this is cladding a metal frame with plywood to make flats/ treads or making a flat completely out of wood using mortise and tenon joins. Sometimes I’m repairing old scenery or using the CNC to cut pieces out of plywood. Sometimes we work with other materials such at twin wall, surge (black felt) and canvas to name a few.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I have absolutely loved it. I’ve been given so much hands on experience and support. some apprenticeships in carpentry evolved around sanding/ finishing, cleaning, getting the teas and aren’t invested in teaching you but that is not the case here at all. I’m allowed to just get on with the job I’m given using all the machinery I need. Any questions I can ask or any assistance/ support is there for me and everyone in the team is more than keen to help.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I learnt so many new skills. I was a complete beginner when I started, just doing bits of DIY or local volunteering/ work experience. So I’ve learnt a lot and also corrected/ improved upon my existing knowledge and techniques too.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
There can be some lack of communication from the college but all was resolved in the end and the admin side of things have got better at the college since I first started. Other than that the I’ve had no issues.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
As much or as little as i need. If i need anything at all or am not happy about something there are so many people around you that can help or offer advise . Everyone wants you to do well.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
The building crafts colllege have been very supportive - I’ve asked so many questions/ advise and my tutor always answers with the same enthusiasm and always has time for me. You also meet up with a liaison officer every month or so to voice any issues.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
The qualification I study is a L2 architectural joinery course. During the course you will make and learn different styles of joins, draws, cabinets, windows, doors and staircases (everything you would find in a home). At work it is quite different, however compared to other scenery making companies a more technical knowledge of bench joinery is required from time to time to fall back on. If you think of carpentry on a scale. Site carpentry on one side and bench joinery on the other, scenic carpentry sits in the middle but the RBO scenery sits more on the bench joinery side - and as there isn’t a college course that would teach you exactly how they make their scenery, I do see the current course as the best fit.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There are some social events planned to socialise with the other apprentices. The first 2 weeks you have an introduction with all the other apprentices. There are also social events going on in the company to meet other colleagues (E.G. Xmas party, cricket club, choir, charity runs)
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Royal Ballet and Opera to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I’ve learnt/ been given so much at the RBO that I don’t think I would have got from a smaller company/ bench joiners.
They’ve paid for me to get an IPAF license, a fork lift license, first aid training and working at height training.
I’ve also been given so much support and guidance, where I needed it at the beginning that I’m now able to, towards the end of my apprenticeship, use all machinery and do most work on my own - but if I still have questions, need support and guidance I can go to anyone in my team for help.
Speaking to other apprentices on my college course a lot of them haven’t been given anywhere near as much hands on experience at smaller bench joinery companies. Where I’ve been given the time to make mistakes, learn from them and given time to figure things out I’ve learnt so much more and I’m a lot more confident to do things independently.
I’ve also been given tickets to see different RBO shows including the ones I’ve worked on which has been so insightful to see the end product of my work and why the scenery is made the way it is.
I’ve also been on an apprenticeship before at a much bigger company and felt as though I was being used as cheap labour - I have not felt like that at the RBO at all. I’ve really felt invested in.
They’ve paid for me to get an IPAF license, a fork lift license, first aid training and working at height training.
I’ve also been given so much support and guidance, where I needed it at the beginning that I’m now able to, towards the end of my apprenticeship, use all machinery and do most work on my own - but if I still have questions, need support and guidance I can go to anyone in my team for help.
Speaking to other apprentices on my college course a lot of them haven’t been given anywhere near as much hands on experience at smaller bench joinery companies. Where I’ve been given the time to make mistakes, learn from them and given time to figure things out I’ve learnt so much more and I’m a lot more confident to do things independently.
I’ve also been given tickets to see different RBO shows including the ones I’ve worked on which has been so insightful to see the end product of my work and why the scenery is made the way it is.
I’ve also been on an apprenticeship before at a much bigger company and felt as though I was being used as cheap labour - I have not felt like that at the RBO at all. I’ve really felt invested in.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Royal Ballet and Opera?
You don’t need to be a huge fan of opera or ballet to apply. I’d never been to a show before believing that it was for upper class people - but since going to a few shows I’ve really enjoyed them which I didn’t think I would - especially seeing what I’ve made on stage.
