Plan B supporting The Big Music Project

Plan B, the award winning artist and founder of educational charity, Each One Teach One, has joined forces with The Big Music Project to help young people across the UK find work and training opportunities in the music industry.

The talented artist who is a rapper, singer-songwriter and film director will offer insider knowledge and advice on building a career in the music industry. Plan B will be at The Big Music Project Live in London on Saturday 4 October and at other national live events in Cardiff and Belfast taking place throughout September and October.

Tickets for the live events are free and organisers have already seen an overwhelming number of young people register via The Big Music Project website.

Funded by The Big Lottery Fund, The Big Music Project is the most ambitious and accessible music project ever to hit the UK. The project is a collaboration between two of the biggest names in UK music – the UK's number one hit music station, Global's Capital FM, which reaches 7.3 million listeners each week, and the BPI, who are behind the BRITs. Both have joined up with charity UK Youth to inspire and create incredible opportunities for 14-24 year olds from across the country wanting to succeed in the music business.

The year long project will reach more than 4.5 million young people, giving them access all areas to the industry and providing them with unbeatable advice, support and expertise directly from those at the heart of the industry. So whether an aspiring radio presenter, make up artist, lighting engineer, or just looking to learn about the business, The Big Music Project will help young people build confidence and develop transferable skills to improve their prospects in the music industry and other employment.

Plan B's Each One Teach One charity, which aims to create opportunities for positive, long-term changes in the lives of young people in East London, will also be part of The Big Music Project.

Talking about his involvement in The Big Music Project, Plan B said "The Big Music Project is all about young people, their love of music and the opportunity to do something positive to change their lives for the better. Across the whole of the UK there are people with skills and talent who don't know where to go next – and it's not easy figuring out how to take an idea you love and make it your reality, your business, and your career. I believe that through The Big Music Project and Each One Teach One we can help young people take big steps towards a big future."

Other big names involved in the project include Chase & Status' very own Will Kennard, chart-topping boyband Lawson, 5 Seconds of Summer, Ellie Goulding, and Capital's Marvin Humes.

Tickets to The Big Music Project Live in London are available free, via www.thebigmusicproject.co.uk.

Event dates are as follows:
Saturday 4 October – The Big Music Project Live in London
Saturday 11 October – The Big Music Project Live in Cardiff
Saturday 18 October – The Big Music Project Live in Belfast
The Big Music Project will deliver a number of exciting opportunities for young people over the next twelve months:

• The Big Music Project Live in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and London in September and October will see thousands of young people get hands-on experience of music industry careers. Each event will be packed with live music, big name speakers, first class advice from industry experts, information on work opportunities in the local area, and the chance to find out how this project can make a difference in the local community.

• The Big Music Project Competition - a BRIT Awards-supported music competition powered by Next BRIT Thing - to find and develop musical talent from across the UK. The team will be scouring Belfast, Glasgow, Gateshead, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Leicester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Portsmouth and London for the best of British talent. Young finalists will come to The O2 in London for a UK-wide national final in the week of The BRIT Awards 2015.

• A new careers initiative "On Track" offering at least 250 work placements, ranging from short term volunteer opportunities to year-long paid internships across the country.

• The creation of a BRIT School Toolkit for UK Youth Champions to help develop music initiatives in their own communities. The material has been developed from BRIT School content, fully accredited and branded accordingly. In total some 11,000 young people will benefit directly through this part of the programme.

More details about The Big Music Project can be found at www.thebigmusicproject.co.uk