A quick search on our website (www.nsa-ccskills.co.uk) will show you the great progress being made on our new Backstage training centre. However to the unenlightened it may look little more than a large grey rectangle box at the moment , so we've been working with local people in Thurrock to get their thoughts on what might be going on inside once the building is open.

Inspired by City College Norwich Graphic Design student Tom Street who won our Hoarding Design Competition we've created postcards that use the text from Tom's design - I SPY WITH MY LITTLE CREATIVE EYE SOMETHING BEGINNING WITH... On the reverse of the card is an invitation to draw or write what you think the large building currently being constructed on the High House Production Park site in Purfleet is going to be (or if you know what it is then what you think it should be).

We first started gathering responses at our Carol Parade and Concert event in December. A number of local children came up with some inspired ideas ranging from the building housing a Zoo to a Roller Coaster with a few interesting variations on a theme closer to the real thing including a Dance Academy to a Brownie Centre where you could get badges in backstage skills. The postcards are being made available around the area including at our office in the Thurrock Learning Campus where the recently submitted idea of our building also being used as an indoor model flying arena was quite brilliant.

The real thing is no less exciting. We're constructing a world-first, cutting-edge training centre that will allow training and skills development to take place in a unique venue offering real industry relevant space and equipment, that reflects current and future industry practice. Our building will be the first purpose-built centre for developing offstage and backstage skills and training in England. It will play an important role in the development of technical skills and expertise to support a sector that is growing faster than any other part of the economy.

The Moving East programme is drawing attention to the building and more importantly to the work that will go on at the training centre. Inside and outside the building we are setting out to address key issues for the theatre and live music sector such as the lack of clear information, advice and guidance for people wishing to enter the profession; the need to offer non-graduate vocational routes into the industry; and the need to continually up-skill and support those already working in the sector.

One of the things that has become ever more apparent to me since working with the Skills Academy is the high level of creativity involved in these backstage roles. Be it the Welder at the Royal Opera House Production Workshops to the Chef for the Erasure tour at Southend Theatres (both subjects in our forthcoming photography exhibition highlighting backstage roles) - these are the most creative people .

Creativity starts at a young age and should be nourished and encouraged throughout our lives, so if you find yourself at High House over the next few weeks - pick up a postcard in the cafe on site, and as you look at the large grey structure taking shape in front of your very eyes let your imagination run wild.