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ABTT Launches MAKE A DiFFERENCE Conference

UK – The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) has announced the launch of the MAKE A DiFFERENCE conference, an annual proactive conference day committed to finding solutions to current industry issues. The conference will be more than simply talking, attendees will be asked to commit to taking action and developing strategies to achieve solutions for the issues discussed.

The first MAKE A DiFFERENCE conference will be held on Friday 21st April 2023 in the Ambassadors Lounge, Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7RQ, with thanks to Ambassador Theatre Group for their support of this event.

The theme for this year’s discussion is: Solving our industry’s recruitment & retention crisis.

The MAKE A DiFFERENCE conference has been developed to continue the great joined-up thinking that is happening in the many ABTT seminars which are convened throughout the year and at the ABTT Theatre Show. With support of academic theatre production staff from Guildford School of Acting the ABTT shall facilitate these continuing discussions at the conference and provide a more focused proactive platform to encourage actions and find practical solutions to move forward with industry issues.

ABTT co-chair and senior lecturer at Guildford School of Acting, Mig Burgess Walsh commented: “I am excited to see what this conference can achieve. It’s my privilege in my role as co-chair of the ABTT to attend many exciting and passionate seminars and talks from all parts of our industry. I hope this conference will provide a focused time away from busy trade shows so that we can think, consider, collaborate and commit to real actions. I can’t wait to be in a room with dedicated people united by a desire to find solutions to the current recruitment and retention crisis. I’m excited that we will all be aligned in our goal to make a real difference!”

Robin Townley, ABTT chief executive, commented: “The ABTT is very pleased to facilitate this opportunity to harness our industry’s collective commitment and talent for developing and implementing solutions and to provide a space and time, with the generous collaboration of ATG and GSA, to allow a focused effort to tackle this huge challenge our sector is experiencing. We very much hope that the MAKE A DiFFERENCE initiative will be a real help in resolving the challenges that our industry faces now and in the future.”

The ABTT is inviting people, businesses and organisations to sign up and join in with the campaign to “MAKE A DiFFERENCE”. Spaces are limited so to join in let them know by expressing interest via elysia@abtt.org.uk with the title “MAKE A DiFFERENCE conference 2023”.

As part of the commitment to attend, the ABTT will ask those participating to agree to do more than just join them on the day, but also agree to leave with clear and feasible actions that will help improve recruitment and retention in the industry.

To help the ABTT obtain opinions and ideas ahead of the event, it has launched a very short survey, inviting anyone from the industry to participate, get involved and share their thoughts.

Please follow this link to join in and offer your thoughts and ideas on the issues of staff recruitment and retention.

The results from this survey will guide the development and structure of the conference, and give the association some data to help it move forward, welcome and look forward to gaining your insight and taking your views to our conference day in April.

31st January 2023

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