The Backstage Centre at High House Production Park in Thurrock is set to be home to the UK's first, Government backed, National College for the Creative and Cultural Industries, opening in September 2016.
The UK's creative economy has experienced significant growth - four times that of the national economy - and the value of the UK's creative industries' exports now exceed £15 billion per year.
The National College is to be established in direct response to this success, providing specialist training in the technical skills needed by the creative and cultural industries.
This development, combined with the wider work undertaken by the Arts Council through programmes such as the Creative employment programme, will be an important factor in ensuring that talent is cultivated in order to support the ongoing success of this sector.
The College will be managed by Creative and Cultural Skills on behalf of a consortium of employers and industry organisations, including Royal Opera House, Live Nation, White Light and the Association of British Theatre Technicians.
It forms part of a new-wave of employer led National Colleges that are intended to help the UK develop practical skills and further colleges will be established to focus on advanced manufacturing, digital skills, nuclear, high speed rail, onshore oil and gas and wind energy. Up to £80 million in capital funding will be matched by employers over 2015-16 and 2016-17 - a potential total investment of £160 over the next two years.
Hedley Swain, Area Director, South East, Arts Council England, said: "We are delighted that the South East, and more specifically Thurrock, will be home to the UK's first National College for the Creative and Cultural Industries. We look forward to seeing young people from across the country being given the opportunity to develop their technical and specialist skills at a national centre of excellence. The College will be an important part of supporting young people's ambitions to be leaders of the future."