education is the most powerful weapon which you can … · “education is the most powerful weapon...

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can useto change the world.” - Nelson Mandela

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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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education is the most powerful weapon which you can … · “education is the most powerful weapon...

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