The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, founded by the composer to support the arts, culture and heritage for the public benefit, has announced a new programme of place-based funding, specifically targeted to support arts projects in the city of Birmingham and the surrounding area.

Birmingham Rep is one of the arts organisations selected and the money will subsidise two new backstage apprenticeship roles, Theatre Technician Apprentice and Scenic Maker Apprentice, targeted at young people from diverse backgrounds traditionally under-represented in the theatre industry.

Over the coming years, this new programme will commit over £500,000 to the West Midlands area across 11 key projects.

The programme works in close partnership with the recipient organisations to raise awareness, widen access and encourage participation in talent development initiatives for young people across the area.

This is a new venture for the Foundation which, since 2010, has donated over £25million in grants, and nearly 400 performing arts scholarships to talented students in financial need.

Simon Thurley, chair, Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, said: “Strong arts organisations bring unquantifiable benefit to the wider community and we hope this programme will see our grants make a larger collective impact on a very local level in Birmingham.”

Rachael Thomas, CEO, Birmingham Rep: “We’re delighted that Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation has chosen to fund our apprenticeships programme, which will fund two apprentices in backstage roles over two years. 

“We look forward to discovering new talent in our city and region and the opportunities that will bring for both the apprentices and The Rep. Without Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation’s support, it would not be possible.”

Recruitment for the two apprenticeships are in progress, and the successful candidates will be announced shortly.