About the NSA

The NSA is a national network of 20 Founder Further Education Colleges working in partnership with over 200 theatre and live music employers. 

The NSA works across the nine regions of England to:

• Create industry endorsed careers advice and guidance
• Promote apprenticeships and entry routes to the creative and cultural sectors
• Promote training and professional development

Most activity happens at local level with employers working with Founder Colleges to adapt and improve the existing curriculum and develop new opportunities.

Our national programme includes:

• An annual autumn Industry Conference each Spring
• Regular projects and activities for young people working within the NSA

At the heart of the NSA's ambition are our core values:

Industry led – We listen to our industry’s needs and work to ensure training leads to real skills for real jobs;

Partnership - We are a membership organisation working together to improve training and skills development for our industry;

Quality – We deliver training, information, advice and guidance, through our membership - within a recognised, industry-endorsed, framework;

Diversity – We develop new models for learning, partnerships and access into the sector, such as Creative Apprenticeships, to improve opportunities for all and increase the diversity of the workforce.