Scenic Construction Technician Apprentice
Royal Opera House
LONDON, Purfleet
Closes in 22 days (Tuesday 2 December 2025)
Posted on 10 November 2025
Contents
Summary
The Scenic Construction Technician Apprenticeship (Draughting Bias) is an opportunity to work on the construction of bespoke scenic elements for stages using a variety of techniques; primarily through draughting skills (technical drawings), but also through an understanding of carpentry and metal-fabrication skills.
- Wage
-
£16,685.50 to £26,984.10, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Scenic construction technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Usually scheduled Monday - Friday with some work required out of these hours according to show production schedules. Shifts to e confirmed.
42 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 5 January 2026
- Duration
-
2 years 9 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
- Learn how to read, interpret and produce technical and construction drawings using AutoCad and Inventor for example, to ensure accurate fabrication of the Designer’s vision by the metalwork or carpentry teams
- Work closely with experienced fabricators to create custom pieces for scenic design projects
- You will learn various fabrication techniques that underpin a draughter’s understanding of metal and carpentry fabrication to safely create scenic elements, props and structures
- In Metalwork: this includes welding, cutting, forming
- In Carpentry: to measure, cut, drill, shape, join and fix wood and other construction components, using a range of fixing methods
- Assist in the assembly and installation of scenic elements at various locations
- Undertake repairs and maintenance of sets, sympathetic to the designer's brief, for revival productions to return them to the original design ensuring visual and structural integrity
- Follow safety protocols and maintain a clean and organised workspace
- Collaborate with team members to meet project deadlines and quality standards
- Keep up to date with any new and improved ways of working and new theatre technology
- Have a positive and responsible attitude to health and safety
- Submit learning logs and diaries to the Apprenticeships Manager
Where you'll work
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON, WC2E 9DD
- Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop, High House Production Park, Off Purfleet Bypass, Purfleet, RM19 1AS
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE WEST MIDLANDS CREATIVE ALLIANCE LIMITED
Training course
Scenic construction technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Interpret the drawing or reference to deliver the Designer’s requirements
- Research and evaluate new technologies and sustainable materials that could contribute to the scenic production process and discuss them with others to identify possible changes
- Use industry language and terminology when communicating with others
- Interpret design requirements which may be presented using a range of software. This may include creating basic visualisation to help others see how designs are used practically.
- Produce 2-dimentional construction drawings to achieve the designer’s vision and in a format that enables the metal worker/carpenter/paper-board convertor to work from
- Use complex drawings i.e. greater number of elements or complex isometrics/geometry to create scenic elements to meet designer’s requirements
- Measure, cut, grind, drill and weld metal to create scenic structures/frameworks/assemblies
- Measure, cut, grind, drill and weld metal to create scenic components
- Measure, cut drill and join wood to create scenic structures/frameworks/assembles
- Measure, cut drill and join wood to create scenic components
- Measure, cut and fix sustainable materials which may include paper-based materials to create scenic structures/frameworks/assemblies
- Measure, cut and fix sustainable materials which may include paper-based materials to create scenic components
- Use a range of suitable fixing methods
- Use resources for example materials, efficiently and effectively to contribute to the smooth running of the workshop and installation on set and ensure it meets its resource constraints activities for example, choosing the correct material
- Comply with statutory, quality, organisational and health and safety regulations when producing scenic elements including undertaking risk assessments, working to method statements, reporting hazardous substances.
- Seek additional advice or expertise from others to support activities
- Choose the correct material to produce/repair the scenic elements
- Choose the correct process to apply the materials to the scenic elements which may include paint finishes/texturing/aging
- Use mechanical or chemical fixings/bondings as appropriate to the situation
- Recycle and/or safely dispose of waste materials
- Follow written, pictorial and verbal instructions to deliver, locate and assemble and secure the scenic elements
- Hang scenic elements correctly using a range of appropriate equipment for example eye bolts, flying irons
- Inspect, maintain, repair and store tools and equipment in-line with manufacturer, legislative and company requirements
- Operate workshop machinery, tools, and other equipment safely and efficiently to meet the design specification
- Chose and use the appropriate tools/equipment for each task for example, measuring and marking tools, saws, drills, glue guns, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) routers
- Interpret the drawing or reference to deliver the Designer’s requirements
- Research and evaluate new technologies and sustainable materials that could contribute to the scenic production process and discuss them with others to identify possible changes
- Use industry language and terminology when communicating with others
- Interpret design requirements which may be presented using a range of software. This may include creating basic visualisation to help others see how designs are used practically.
- Produce 2-dimentional construction drawings to achieve the designer’s vision and in a format that enables the metal worker/carpenter/paper-board convertor to work from
- Use complex drawings i.e. greater number of elements or complex isometrics/geometry to create scenic elements to meet designer’s requirements
- Measure, cut, grind, drill and weld metal to create scenic structures/frameworks/assemblies
- Measure, cut, grind, drill and weld metal to create scenic components
- Measure, cut drill and join wood to create scenic structures/frameworks/assembles
- Measure, cut drill and join wood to create scenic components
- Measure, cut and fix sustainable materials which may include paper-based materials to create scenic structures/frameworks/assemblies
- Measure, cut and fix sustainable materials which may include paper-based materials to create scenic components
- Use a range of suitable fixing methods
- Use resources for example materials, efficiently and effectively to contribute to the smooth running of the workshop and installation on set and ensure it meets its resource constraints activities for example, choosing the correct material
- Comply with statutory, quality, organisational and health and safety regulations when producing scenic elements including undertaking risk assessments, working to method statements, reporting hazardous substances.
- Seek additional advice or expertise from others to support activities
- Choose the correct material to produce/repair the scenic elements
- Choose the correct process to apply the materials to the scenic elements which may include paint finishes/texturing/aging
- Use mechanical or chemical fixings/bondings as appropriate to the situation
- Recycle and/or safely dispose of waste materials
- Follow written, pictorial and verbal instructions to deliver, locate and assemble and secure the scenic elements
- Hang scenic elements correctly using a range of appropriate equipment for example eye bolts, flying irons
- Inspect, maintain, repair and store tools and equipment in-line with manufacturer, legislative and company requirements
- Operate workshop machinery, tools, and other equipment safely and efficiently to meet the design specification
- Chose and use the appropriate tools/equipment for each task for example, measuring and marking tools, saws, drills, glue guns, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) routers
Training schedule
- You will be based at our purpose-built production workshop in the High House Production Park in Purfleet, Essex
- Your time will be split between the workshops and the Building Crafts College in Stratford, E15, where you will study for a Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship Standard
- Work is usually carried out at the carpentry and metalwork workshops in Purfleet, Essex, but you may occasionally be required to work at other venues
- Time at college will be in 2-3 week blocks
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
Other in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Previous woodwork experience
- Enjoy working with your hands
- Helpful, positive and flexible
- Punctual
- Self-motivated
- Willing to work at height
- Good spatial awareness
- Respectful approach to safety
- Previous metalwork experience
- Technical Drawing experience
Other requirements
You must be 18 years old or over on 5 Jan 2026. You must have work authorisation for the UK AND have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the last three years. You must not have completed a university degree or equivalent in the UK or elsewhere (regardless of subject). You must be physically capable of undertaking the requirements of the job. Reasonable adjustments will be considered as part of your application.
About this employer
We bring together the world’s most extraordinary artists in live, streamed and broadcast events and performances that thrill, move and excite; that transport people to other worlds. Our theatres are in London’s Covent Garden but our work is accessed and experienced across the UK and globally through touring partnerships, cinema programmes, free outdoor screenings, radio, TV and live-streaming.
http://www.roh.org.uk/apprenticeships (opens in new tab)
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
- Able to secure an entry-level role in Scenic Construction / Technical Drawings or similar in the creative industries
- Put all the skills learnt at college into practice in a production workshop environment
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE WEST MIDLANDS CREATIVE ALLIANCE LIMITED
apprentices@roh.org.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000350498.
Apply now
Closes in 22 days (Tuesday 2 December 2025)
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