LEARNERSHIPLearners at the Gearhouse Academy are trained as entry-level Technicians for Live Events. To qualify as work-ready industry entrants, they must meet the requirements of all Exit Level Outcomes and Unit Standards for the Qualification; Live Event Technical Production: SAQA ID 48669. The Live Event Technical Production course is a free-of-charge, one year internship which is run in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban in partnership with leading technical services provider, Gearhouse Group.
Training covers the areas of AV, Lighting, Structures, Rigging and Power along with auxiliary Working at Height, Fire Fighting, First Aid and Safety standards. The program runs from January to December each year and applications open for the following year on the 1st of September.
COURSE MODULES
Occupational Health and Safety
Outlines the Health and Safety aspects of the Live Event Industry and the prevention of Accidents/ Unsafe Acts
Overview of Live Event industry
Industry history including basic stage and technical layout as well as industry best practice for Equipment Preparation, Load in, Load Out
Power
Basics of 3 phase power (Heavy Current) and equipment-specific load calculation methods
z Lighting
Use of Lighting on a Live EventTheory and operation of Generic fixtures, programmable Light Fixtures and LED lighting
Audio
Use of Audio on a Live EventAudio theory and the application and operation thereof
Audio Visual
Use of Audio Visual on a Live EventAV theory and the application and operation thereof
Rigging and Staging
Basic Rigging principles and guidelinesBasic stage construction methodsPractical Rigging and building of an Audio Tower“Working at Heights” Certification (climbing structures while harnessed)
Stress Management
Dealing with stress in the Live Event Industry
LEARNER EXPECTATIONThe Live Event Technical Production Learnership equips candidates with the knowledge and skills to build a corporate Stage and operate Lighting, Audio and Audio Visual equipment. All learning is underpinned by Gearhouse Group principles. Learners can expect to graduate as work-ready, entry level technicians with a Certificate in Live Event Technical Production that is recognised throughout the industry.
Learnership Modules are conducted as a combination of theory and practical work.
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VISIONIncrease market share through leadership
Constantly improve operational systems
Benchmark to the highest standards
Promote local industry growth through education and skills transfer
MISSIONService the event industry with expertise
of the highest calibre, state of the art technology and qualified personnel with
a passion for the industry.
Empower employees through on-going training and development
Sustain customer relationships with professional service, reliable back-up
and consistent quality
Encourage individual creative contributions and innovations from personnel
VALUESCOLLABORATION
RESPECT
COMMITMENT
INTEGRITY
HIGH PERFORMANCE
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HISTORY Gearhouse worked closely with CreateSA a specialist focus division of MAPPP SETA (Sector Education Training Authority) towards redressing skills shortages in the Live Event Technical Services industry.
From 2002, volunteers from the Company played an integral role in writing the standards and qualification framework for the first SAQA - accredited Learnership in Technical Production Services. The Qualification was set at NQF Level 4 and all course materials were drafted in-house by Gearhouse field experts.
The pilot was successfully run at Gearhouse’s Johannesburg offices in 2004 with an intake of 18 learners and was rolled out again in Durban and Cape Town in 2007. Although MAPPP SETA was subsequently disbanded, the programme continued to develop and run as a Gearhouse-funded private initiative.
The Academy was renamed in honour of its most loyal advocate Gearhouse Director, Kentse Mpahlwa, after his death in 2013.
In 2015, the Learnership was accredited by CATHSSETA and continues to contribute to raising the overall skills standards within the South African Live Events Industry.
PROGRAMME CriteriaApplicants are required to have a Matric qualification with Maths and Science and a thorough screening process is used to determine the most suitable candidates.
StructureThe Live Event Technical Production course is a workplace-based learnership programme designed to meet the specific needs and critical skills requirements of the Live Event industry.
Developed in consultation with Gearhouse Kentse Mpahlwa Academy stakeholders and industry specialists, this program provides a well-rounded understanding across the relevant fields and certifies learners in line with the SETA Skills Development Plan and the National Skills Development Strategy III.
Training and MaterialsOur Course Manuals facilitate a logical progression through the disciplines and incorporate the various requirements - from Foundation Phase up to Junior Technician - in each field.
Training is given by our own highly-skilled Gearhouse employees within the workshop rotation component and learners spend their final semester working in their field of choice.
Learners are provided with all the necessary training material, safety boots, hardhat, gloves etc. they need to complete their tasks safely.
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HoursOfficial Learnership hours are from 8 am to 5 pm daily (Monday to Friday) from the beginning of January to December. However, working in the Live Event Industry demands long hours and our Learners are prepared for on the job realities with extensive onsite experience. Over and above formal Classroom time and Workshop practical hours, Learners gain practical experience on commercial live events from set up through show duration until the load out of all equipment and staging is completed.
Gearhouse Kentse Mpahlwa Academy Learners become part of the Gearhouse staff body, earning a monthly stipend as well as overtime when they are sent out on events outside of these hours. AssessmentAssessment is continuous and runs throughout the year. The final exam is set for the end of November, part of which requires the group to work as a team to set-up and run a full stage for group assessment.
MethodologyThe training methodology used is criterion based – a learner-centred training approach originally developed for apprenticeship training - which encourages the learner to manage their own learning. The learner must attain a 100% pass mark for all Criterion Tests before moving on to the next level.
OutcomesGearhouse Kentse Mpahlwa Academy graduates are multi-skilled Technicians. With a core safety element embedded in every module, the Learnership goes a long way to entrenching the Gearhouse Group ethos of “safety first”. Without these fundamentals, no-one is allowed to operate as part of the Gearhouse technical team.
CAREER PATHS:Our graduates go out into the industry to work in a variety of positions and at companies across the spectrum of Live Events. Promising students may be selected for a second year of specialisation.
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LIGHTING
Follow Spot Operator
Workshop Technician
Stock Controller
Lighting Technician
Lighting Operator
Maintenance Technician
Lighting Designer
Workshop Manager
Departmental Head
POWER
Stock Controller
Workshop Technician
Power Technician
Senior Power Technician
Field Generator
Service Technician
Workshop Manager
Departmental Head/Wireman
CAREER OPTIONS
AUDIOVISUAL
Stock Controller
Workshop Technician
AV Technician
Senior AV Technician
AV Engineer
Workshop Manager
Senior AV Engineer
Departmental Head
STRUCTURES
Stage Builder
Workshop Technician
Stock Controller
Roof Builder
Scaffolder
Stage Designer
Structural Engineer
Workshop Manager
Departmental Head
RIGGING
Rigging Workshop Technician
Stock Controller
Ground Rigger
Top Rigger
Maintenance Technician
Head Rigger
Workshop Manager
Departmental Head
AUDIO
Radio Microphone Technician
Audio Stage Technician
Stock Controller
Workshop Technician
Sound Technician
Monitor Engineer
Audio Systems Engineer
Workshop Manager
Sound Engineer
Departmental Head
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Examples of Learners who have built careers
with our subsidiary companies include;
LED SCREEN OPERATOR
SET BUILDER
PRO AV INSTALLATION TECHNICIAN
SYSTEMS INTEGRATOR
TECHNICAL DESIGN AND CONTENT GENERATION
VENUE TECHNICAL MANAGER
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CURRICULUM TABLE
SECOND QUARTER - April to June
Unit Standard 114518: Co-ordinate the use of equipment, material and tools
Unit Standard 114516: Operate (apply) equipment
Unit Standard 114511: Set-up and strike equipment, material and tools
Practical Training: Lighting, Audio, Audio Visual
Experiential: Working on Live Events as Trainee Technicians
Portfolio of Evidence: Update/Filing
FIRST QUARTER - January to March
Induction: SETA & HR. Sign Contracts
Introduction: Occupational Health and Safety
Personal Protection Equipment: Issue and use
Theory lectures: History, Lighting, Audio, Audio Visual, Power
Unit Standard 114510: Load and off load
Unit Standard 114508: Pack equipment and tools
Unit Standard 114514: Maintain equipment and tool parts
Unit Standard 15096: Stress Management in Live Event Industry
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FOURTH QUARTER - October to December
Portfolio of Evidence: Complete/Submit
Practical: Field selection experience
Experiential: Working on General Event(s)
Final Integrated Summative Assessment
SETA Verification
Interviews: Aptitude second year specialisation
Graduation Ceremony
THIRD QUARTER - July to September
Final Summative Assessments
Unit Standard 10386: Establishing and running a small business enterprise (SMME)
Unit Standard 10385: Develop a business plan for a small business
Experiential: Working on Social Responsibility Event(s)
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“I began my studies with the
Gearhouse Academy in 2007
and I am now the Lighting Stock
Controller at the Johannesburg
Branch. It’s been a fantastic
journey to understand the ins and
outs of how a Live Event works and
I love the challenge of achieving
as a woman in what used to be a
male-dominated industry”
- Gugulethu Luvuno, Stock Controller
“It is a place where if you are
ambitious and driven enough it
gives the opportunity for industry
professionals to mould you into a
technician that is an asset to any
production.” - Siphokazi George
(2nd year student)
“Working hard is important, but there is something that matters
even more – believing in yourself! Unemployed and thinking of
going abroad, I applied for the learnership and it opened doors
for me and today I am a Senior AV technician and I am very
happy to be part of the Gearhouse family.”
- Samsodien Andrews (Senior AV Technician)
“We wanted to create a permanent reminder within Gearhouse of our late partner and Director, Kentse
Mphalwa’s contribution to the Live Events Industry and his passion for the education and upliftment of
underprivileged youth in South Africa. Going forward, our Training School will be known as the Gearhouse
Kentse Mpahlwa Academy. In this way, we hope to ensure that his vision is remembered and his aims furthered
in the Live Events Industry.” - Ofer Lapid, Joint Managing Director, Gearhouse Group of Companies.
TESTIMONIALS
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“If one day you get offered a seat on
the Presidents Jet, don’t ask which seat.
. .JUST GET ON!!!! The same can be
said about this Learnership. It breeds
a different kind of people. Endless
possibilities . . .No Boundaries!”
- Garreth Le Roux (Senior Audio Technician/
Junior Project Manager)
“I learned so much during the learnership and gained
so much experience at the same time. I started in 2009
and today I am in charge of the Cape Town LEDVision
department. I am also a senior AV Technician/Engineer
when Gearhouse needs me. All I can say is work hard and
be humble and willing to learn everyday no matter from
whom.” - Bruce Thomas Kinnear - LEDVision
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Gearhouse Kentse Mpahlwa Academy - Johannesburg
Tel: (011) 216 3000 | Fax: (011) 216 3100
31 1st Str. | Bezuidenhout Valley| JHB | 2094
PO Box 751391 | Gardenview| 2047 Gearhouse Kentse Mpahlwa Academy - Cape Town
Tel: (021) 929 7200 | Fax: (021) 933 7844
38-40 Assegaai Rd. | Parow Industria | CPT
PO Box 905 | Belville | 7535
Gearhouse Kentse Mpahlwa Academy - Durban
Tel: (031) 792 6200 | Fax: (031) 792 6210
9 Kyalami Rd. | Westmead | Pinetown
PO Box 15879 | Westmead | 3608
Email: [email protected]
Website: www gearhouse-academy.co.za