Norfolk’s Folk in a Field Festival, which starts tomorrow at West Acre, is helping the next generation of aspiring technicians by partnering with City College Norwich. Festival organiser Luke Horncastle explains more
Working in partnership with City College Norwich (CCN), Norfolk’s Folk in a Field Festival will be supporting eight students with invaluable industry experience at this year’s event starting tomorrow (Thursday July 2, 2026). The students, who will have just completed their T Level in Events and Venues Technician, will take part in all aspects of the festival’s production and the initiative aims to give real-world experience in a fast-paced festival environment.
The placement will cover the full duration of the event including the build and breakdown of the festival’s ‘pallet stage’, lighting and sound design, scheduling, and artist management.
Festival organiser, Luke Horncastle said, “We’re really excited to be able to help the next generation of event technicians get the full experience of running one of our stages. They’ll be fully immersed in the running of our event and, while they will be supervised by experienced professionals, they’ll also have the freedom to put their classroom learning into practice and think on their feet.”
“Hands-on experience can be hard to come by in this industry, so we wanted to support students in developing the practical skills needed for a career in events. Training the next generation of event professionals is vital to keeping the industry thriving, particularly as festivals like Folk in a Field rely on a unique range of specialist skills. With many larger events facing challenges in recent years, this is our way of helping people break into the sector and gain valuable experience. The students are incredibly excited about the opportunity, and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to the team.”
Richard Hanke-Hill, CCN Course Leader said, “Partnerships with local organisations are vital in helping students develop practical skills. Folk in a Field is a unique opportunity and, as an outdoor festival, will provide a varied and exciting experience that will be a fantastic addition to their CVs. We can’t wait to hear about their experiences and hope that we can offer more placements with Folk in a Field in future years.”
Folk in a Field Festival takes place between July 2-5, 2026, at Bradmoor Woods, West Acre and attracts up to 1500 attendees each year. Now entering its 11th year, the independent family-friendly festival will feature over 45 artists alongside workshops, independent traders, and performances from the Foolhardy Circus. For further information, line-up and tickets visit folkinafield.co.uk
Featured image of Luke Horncastle – supplied
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