Careers Spotlight: Rigger

There are so many people who work to make what you see on screen special. One of the most unsung jobs is the "rigger." That's a person who works behind the scenes to do the little things that help make your shows come alive. 

What Is a "Rigger" in Film and TV? 

A rigger works on ropes, booms, cameras, lights, lifts, hoists, and other similar apparatuses for a film or television show. 

Set up scaffolding and other rigging for films, tv shows, and theatre productions

Practical, hands-on work in an exciting industry

You'll need attention to detail, a good head for heights, and the ability to concentrate for long periods of time

As a rigger or 'grip' as it is often referred to in the industry, you'll set up and operate any scaffolding, lighting rigs, booms and hoists for tv, film, or stage productions.

DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES

Work closely with the team who design and build the sets, the lighting and electrics teams, and the rest of the crew

Make sure the relevant elements are in the right places

Ensure that they are safe and secure

Move them from location to location as needed

You might be involved in setting up platforms and pulley systems for stunts and special effects, or for moving scenery in and out of theatre sets

DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT

Your working hours are likely to be erratic, with long days during filming or live productions, including early starts, late evenings and weekend work.

YOU'LL NEED

As a rigger you'll spend your time moving equipment, working at heights, and sometimes working in potentially dangerous settings, so you'll need physical fitness, and excellent attention to detail.

Most riggers have a background in scaffolding or have worked their way up in the industry from junior roles to become skilled riggers.

You'll need to gain an accredited qualification in Advanced Rigging or Scaffolding from the Joint Industry Grading Scheme (JIGS) or an NVQ or SVQ, and you'll normally need to spend several years working with scaffolding to gain these. There are apprenticeships available in this area, so this may also be a good way to get started and earn while you learn.

CAREER PROSPECTS

Many riggers will be freelancers (as is the case for many workers in the film and tv industry) although there are some opportunities for permanent employment in theatres and locations with regular production schedules.

There are a range of different roles you can progress through from being a general Rigger to becoming a Chargehand Rigger where you'll manage a small team, to a Supervising Rigger where you might manage several teams, to a Head of Rigging or HoD Rigger where you'll oversee the whole of the rigging operation for a production.

If you want to learn more about becoming a rigger click on the links below

Boosting your CV

So what is a CV?  CV is short for Curriculum Vitae and is a short document which summarises your unique skills, character, experience and achievements.  

For students it can feel difficult to know what to write as you haven't had the time to build up the experience that employers always seem to want.

In this section we will look at ways of making your CV stand out for future employers so you can get that dream job.  Last month we looked at after school clubs, this month we consider voluntary work.

Consider work experience placements:

The next logical step up from volunteering is to look for work experience placements. Although these can be hard to come by, they will give you the chance to experience what it’s like being involved in the day-to-day running of a business.  Our year 10 students are just starting preparation for their work experience week in July and our 6th form students have work experience opportunities throughout the year.  

Some work experience placements are paid and some aren’t, but you should aim to make a good impression all the same. In some cases, work experience placements can lead to full-time or part-time job offers.  

We recommend that you take every opportunity you can to help out during your placement, this way you’ll have lots of experience and activities to talk about when it comes to updating your CV. You’ll also have a valuable reference that you can use when applying for full or part-time jobs.

Current Opportunities

This month we have opportunities for students hear how they can start their career at Amazon or as a detective in the polic force.  There is also an upcoming session for parents and students who want to learn what T-levels are.

Unlock Your Future at Amazon's Path to Success Through Apprenticeships Virtual Event! Tuesday 7th November, from 5pm - 6:30pm.

Dear Students,

I hope you are well and you have had or are having a great half term break.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work for a company that ships 1.6 million parcels a day? And makes over 500 Billion dollars of revenue? One moment working in audiobooks and then the next moving into the robotics of a virtual assistant?

Well we have got you covered! We have a VERY exciting opportunity for you as we are hosting an ‘Unlocking your future’: Amazon’s Path to Success Through Apprenticeships Virtual Event on the 7th November from 5pm - 6:30pm. If you are looking for an exciting opportunity to kickstart your career and gain valuable skills while working with one of the world's most innovative companies, do not miss this exclusive introduction to Amazon's apprenticeship programs!

We all know the world renowned Amazon for their Prime shopping, Amazon Videos and Amazon Alexa. However, Amazon have many more exciting industries in which they work in; whether you're interested in tech, operations, business or creative roles, Amazon’s apprenticeships provide a unique path to gain experience and knowledge while earning a competitive salary!

This is an opportunity like no other to hear from one of the world’s largest companies and the experience will certainly set you apart when it comes to applying to such a prestigious business. Amazon is an enterprise which fuels innovation in ecommerce, technology, software and much more. Working with such an innovative company allows apprentices to share ideas and fuel their own creativity.

During this session you will hear from senior leaders at Amazon so you can understand what it takes to get to the top of such an extraordinary company. Additionally, you will take part in interactive workshops and Q&A sessions so you will have the chance to interact and network with successful leaders in the company where our experts will provide valuable advice and guidance, helping you make informed decisions as you navigate your own career path.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to learn, network, and explore potential career paths within Amazon. Click on the following link to apply now and secure your spot!

Application Link:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/AmazonsPathToSuccess

Join us to discover how you can launch your career in a dynamic, supportive, and innovative environment. We can’t wait to see you there!

Kind Regards,

Dan / Young Professionals

HOP INTO APPRENTICESHIPS & T LEVELS:

THE HERTFORDSHIRE VIRTUAL CAREERS FAIR FOR PARENTS & CARERS

Taking into account feedback from last year we have decided to host the event on Zoom.

Sign up for FREE here.

Wednesday 24th January from 17:30 - 19:00 online, this free of charge event is designed specifically for parents and carers who would like to explore the apprenticeship and T Level options available to their child.

This event will be interesting for all parents and carers, but will be particularly useful for those supporting children in year groups 10, 11, 12 and 13.

We are really pleased to announce Anna Morrison CBE Founder of Amazing Apprenticeships will be doing a keynote speech on apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships and T levels.

Example of exhibitors from last event