Miloco Work Experience
At Miloco we have taken time to thoroughly review the scheme we offer as a Studio Group. We have had
verification from the Inland Revenue that our programme does not qualify for National Minimum wage and we have researched the benefits of
work experience for anyone considering a career in sound engineering or associated fields.
Miloco has always believed that work experience is valuable to those who participate, for the industry as a whole, and for us as a studio.
It should also help young people to make more informed career decisions and can occasionally lead to regular employment within the industry.
Please be aware that all the Engineers and Assistants that Miloco utilise are all freelancers.
Training Courses In The Music Industry
In principle we support degree courses in Audio Engineering / Sound Design and - to a lesser extent - the ubiquitous Music and Technology courses. The courses available are often operated by commercial companies and fees can be very high. We feel that these schools slightly exploit the aspirations and dreams of some students as they are unrealistic about future employment possibilities at the end of the course. The majority of the people who ask for voluntary work experience have usually attended a course of some kind and while they may have a qualification they usually aren't ready to work within a commercial environment. It really isn't all about technology!
The Miloco Work Experience scheme
A few years ago we decided to develop a work experience scheme for over 18's as we were being continually asked to take on placements and felt it needed structure and guidance for the students involved. We offer 2 - 4 week slots so that they can obtain an understanding of how recording studios operate. In an effort to reduce the number of enquiries and filter out mis-informed applicants, we do make the experience sound pretty unappealing but realistic on our website. If we tell people honestly at the outset that they will not get the chance to sit in front of mixing desks or hang out with rock stars and are more likely to be running between buildings, making tea and doing very basic tasks, we hope that only completely dedicated people would contact us. We also include a few 'tongue in cheek' photos ... it doesn't seem to put people off.
The Benefits for the Work Experience Volunteers
As we provide a professional service to a varied clientele, it is paramount that only experienced
Miloco freelancers work with these clients in each studio. We delegate tasks to the work experience which are mostly based outside the
recording studios themselves. However if the Producers, Engineers or Assistants are working without clients present we do allow work experience
placements to sit in on the session. On certain occasions if we think there will be no conflict with our clients' interests they can sit in on
a full session. They may also be asked to help set up at the start of a new session alongside the assistant engineer.
What placements will learn is how a studio runs day to day and the seemingly mundane tasks that make a session run smoothly. Time permitting,
they can to talk to some of the freelance Engineers and Producers who work at the studios and who can offer incredibly good advice about how
sessions operate based on their own experience and knowledge.
Should we stop offering work experience?
We don't think so. We know that some people who have done work experience with us have come back to work with us in some capacity, or have gone on to get jobs within the industry. We also know a lot of people who have gone away knowing they no longer want to be engineers and have learned that this is not the job for them. As one of the leading studio groups we do believe that Miloco promotes a constructive work experience scheme.
Still interested?
If you are interested in finding out more on applying for work experience at Miloco, and are aged 18 or over please click here.
