Ivors Academy launches further education programme to kickstart music careers

Music industry giant The Ivors Academy is launching a new two-year diploma in Creative Entrepreneurship for students aged 19 years and over.

Backed by the biggest players in the music industry, TheWRD is a further education course offering young people the chance of building a career in this highly competitive industry, with the first intake starting in September 2022.

Following GCSEs, the new pre-degree diploma will be delivered through a combination of an immersive learning platform for remote-learning alongside regular group sessions and mentorship days in local grassroots music venues across the UK.

Students learn online and in person at their own pace on this accredited, UCAS-recognised course, which takes up to two years to complete. The course is designed to give students the skills and knowledge to create new opportunities whether they stay in education, start a career in music – in front of or behind the mic – or in another industry.

Taught and mentored by top music artists, publishers, producers, composers, technicians, marketeers, business executives, lawyers, accountants, graphic designers, publicists and agents and powered by TheWRD’s talent development technology, students will have a unique opportunity to chart a more fulfilling career in the creative industries.

The course will be state-funded for those who qualify, or it can be funded privately. For those students who aren’t eligible for state funding but who are unable to fund themselves, TheWRD is forming a network of partners to offer bursaries to meet the cost of the course.

Reservoir’s Jamie Hartman, winner of two Ivor Novello awards, said, “With inspiring educators, cutting-edge, interactive digital platforms, and affordable access models, TheWRD is one of the most exciting innovations in arts education for a generation. It’s truly different. It guides students from scratch to a genuine point of entry into the music business across all areas, from writing, playing and production to management, publishing, law and record label positions - and you hear it from the people doing it every day at the highest level. Plus it does so in a way that young people understand and connect with.”

Oscar and Grammy winning producer Paul Epworth added, “Offering unparalleled access to valuable insights from professionals at the top of their industry, TheWRD fills the gaps in the current educational system, providing a bridge between standard educational models and both university and practical experience. Passing the knowledge and experience to the next generation is vital to the evolution of music and the surrounding culture. TheWRD is the foundation of that process.”

“TheWRD is about giving young creatives access to what they need, when they need it and at a price they can afford,” concluded music industry professional and TheWRD founding director Ian Mack. “Students don’t want long tedious lectures about irrelevant subjects. They want premium, relevant content delivered in bite-sized pieces in immersive online experiences and through real-world mentorship in real venues. TheWRD is a safe, creative space where students can fulfil their potential.”