Trainee Programme

Our Trainee Programme is a paid, year‑long development opportunity for Wired4Music alumni who are taking their next steps as emerging professionals. 

The Trainee Programme was born in 2023, out of a desire to retain the exceptional talent and insight of young people within our Wired4Music community, and to bridge the gap for alumni aged 24-30, enabling them to return and contribute to our work and programmes as emerging practitioners in the music education and cultural sector. 

The year-long programme, which evolves each year based on the needs of the trainees and the sector more widely, is designed to support young people aged 24-30 to develop practical skills, confidence and experience, while contributing meaningfully to Sound Connections’ work.

Deadline for applications –  Monday 22nd June 2026, 9am

Who is the programme for? 

The Trainee Programme is for dedicated and recently active members of the Wired4Music community who are ready to take their next step into professional practice, who might for example: 

• Have taken part in multiple Wired4Music opportunities, such as Generate, the event producer programme, performing at Wired Up, attending drop‑ins or 1:1 sessions with the Wired4Music team 

• Be at the upper age range of Wired4Music — aged 24/25+, or a Wired4Music alumni up to and including age 30 

• Have an interest in working in music education, youth voice and the wider arts and cultural sector 

What the programme offers: 

Trainees work closely with the Sound Connections team over a 12‑month period, gaining paid, hands‑on experience while developing their own professional pathway. 

The programme offers: 

• Paid work, training and skills development training in project management, facilitation, research and evaluation, marketing and communications, finances and fundraising 

• Practical, real‑world experience co‑producing our youth voice training and live events such as Wired Up and our annual Inclusive Practice in Action conference, as well as designing, researching and delivering a self‑led project 

• Mentoring and tailored support – from a dedicated member of the Sound Connections team and ongoing support shaped around individual ambitions and next steps  

• Progression beyond the programme – following a six-month training period, Trainees spend a further six months supporting Sound Connections’ work as paid freelancers, joining our wider pool of Associates and continuing to build practical experience in the sector 

Why we run the Trainee Programme:

The Trainee Programme was created to: 

• Retain the talent, insight and leadership skills of young people within the Wired4Music community 
• Create fair, paid progression routes into the music education and cultural workforce 
• Bring young people’s voices, experiences and perspectives deeper into sector‑level work 
• Support a more inclusive, diverse and representative workforce now and into the future

What former Trainees have said: 

Read more about the experiences of our trainee programme alumni here.

Applications and recruitment: Now open! 

Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Trainee Programme.  

Full details and information on how to apply can be found here.

Deadline for applications: 9am, Monday 22nd June 2026.