{{Short description|Academic institution based in England}} {{Infobox university | name = Access Creative College | image = Acc_classiclogo_1.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | motto = | motto_lang = | mottoeng = | type = Further Education | established = {{start date|1992}}<ref name="Ofsted_2022">{{cite web |last1=Ward |first1=Martin |title=Inspection of Access to Music Limited |url=https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50183372 |publisher=Ofsted |access-date=24 May 2023 |date=2022}}</ref> | closed = <!-- {{end date|YYYY}} --> | founder = | parent = | affiliation = | religious_affiliation = | academic_affiliation = | endowment = | budget = | officer_in_charge = | chairman = | chairperson = | chancellor = | president = | vice-president = | superintendent = | provost = | vice_chancellor = | rector = | principal = Birmingham - Zoe Green <br> Bristol - Jon Domaille <br> Lincoln - Daniel Swinburne<br> London - TBC<br> Manchester - Mark Acton<br> Norwich - Dan Foden<br> Plymouth - Matthew Mills | dean = | director = | head_label = | head = | academic_staff = | administrative_staff = | students = | undergrad = | postgrad = | doctoral = | other = | address = <!-- Please discuss before using --> | city = Birmingham, Bristol, Lincoln, London, Manchester, Norwich, and Plymouth | state = | province = | country = | postcode = <!--or, postalcode or zipcode--> | coordinates = <!-- {{Coord}} --> | campus = | language = | colors = <!--or, colours= --> | athletics = | sports = | athletics_nickname = <!--or, sports_nickname= --> | sporting_affiliations = | mascot = <!--or, mascots= --> | sports_free_label = | sports_free = | sports_free_label2 = | sports_free2 = | website = {{url|http://www.accesstomusic.co.uk|www.accesstomusic.co.uk}} | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | footnotes = }}
'''Access Creative College''', formerly '''Access to Music Ltd''', is a UK-based independent training provider which specialises in industry-focused popular music and creative education. It operates across England with dedicated music colleges in Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Lincoln, London, Manchester, Norwich, and Plymouth.<ref>{{Citation |title=Plymouth |date=2023-05-19 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plymouth&oldid=1155814075 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-05-20 |language=en}}</ref> ACC's head office is in Manchester.
Access Creative College was funded by the Education Funding Authority (EFA) and the Skills Funding Agency (SFA)<ref>{{cite web|author=Skills Funding Agency |title=Register of Training Organisations - July 2012 v3 |url=http://readingroom.skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/sfa/register_of_training_organisations_-_july_2012v3.pdf |publisher=Skills Funding Agency |accessdate=1 May 2014 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and worked in partnership with other UK educational institutions, including Birmingham City University (BCU)<ref name="bbcu">{{cite web|author=Birmingham City University|title=Popular Music - BMus|url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/popular-music-performance|publisher=Birmingham City University|accessdate=1 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403103050/http://bcu.ac.uk/courses/popular-music-performance|archive-date=3 April 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="bcu">{{cite web|author=Birmingham City University|title=Music Business - BA (Hons)|url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/music-business|publisher=Birmingham City University|accessdate=1 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403103946/http://bcu.ac.uk/courses/music-business|archive-date=2014-04-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM).<ref name="rncm">{{cite web|author=Royal Northern College of Music |title=Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Popular Music Performance |url=http://www.rncm.ac.uk/study-here/what-you-can-study/undergraduate/bachelor-of-arts-hons-popular-music-performance/ |publisher=Royal Northern College of Music |accessdate=1 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718145037/http://www.rncm.ac.uk/study-here/what-you-can-study/undergraduate/bachelor-of-arts-hons-popular-music-performance/ |archivedate=18 July 2014 }}</ref>
== History ==
Access to Music was founded in 1992<ref name="Rockschool">{{cite web|author=PRS for Music|title=School of Rock|url=https://www.prsformusic.com/creators/news/mmagazine/M22/rockschool/Pages/rockschool.aspx|publisher=PRS for Music|access-date=2014-05-02|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140609102546/https://www.prsformusic.com/creators/news/mmagazine/M22/rockschool/Pages/rockschool.aspx|archive-date=2014-06-09|url-status=dead}}</ref> by John Ridgeon to promote and improve popular music education in the UK. The first Access to Music head office was in Leicester. The music school formed a partnership with Leicester College followed by partnerships with regional colleges.
The second Access to Music centre opened in Bristol in 1999 and the York and London branches opened in 2002. The first Access to Music award ceremony, hosted by Sir George Martin, took place in London in 2003. Subsequent award ceremonies took place in various locations around the country, including O2 Academy Birmingham and Liverpool Sound City, and have been hosted by BBC Radio DJs Lauren Laverne and Edith Bowman.<ref>{{cite web|author=B-Side Project|title=Events|url=http://www.b-sideproject.org/events/|publisher=B-Side Project|accessdate=2 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="liverpool">{{cite web|author=Liverpool Live |title=Liverpool Sound City and Echo Arena to host UK Music Student Awards |url=http://liverpool-live.info/music/2331-liverpool-sound-city-and-echo-arena-to-host-uk-music-student-awards |publisher=Liverpool Live |accessdate=21 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010224356/http://liverpool-live.info/music/2331-liverpool-sound-city-and-echo-arena-to-host-uk-music-student-awards |archivedate=10 October 2014 }}</ref> The music college expanded to Brighton and Lincoln in 2004 with centres opening in both cities.
In 2009, Access to Music was acquired by Armstrong Learning, a Manchester-based education and training provider. In 2011, the head office re-located from Leicester to Birmingham,<ref name="Birmingham">{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Catherine |title=Heath Mill Studios Music Training Centre Launched |url=http://www.pabnews.com/10841/heath-mill-studios-music-training-centre-launched/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714144254/http://www.pabnews.com/10841/heath-mill-studios-music-training-centre-launched/ |archive-date=14 July 2014 |accessdate=27 March 2014 |publisher=PAB news |df=dmy-all}}</ref> with an administrative centre established in Manchester. In 2011, Access to Music launched a new centre in Darlington based at The Forum Music Centre which later closed.<ref>{{cite news|author=The Northern Echo|title=The Forum, in Darlington, reveals plans for expansion|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10972570.Darlington_music_venue_reveals_plans_for_expansion/?ref=rss|accessdate=22 May 2014|newspaper=The Northern Echo|date=29 Jan 2014}}</ref> In 2013, the college in Norwich moved from its King Street location to Epic Studios.<ref>{{cite news|last=Freezer|first=David|title=Access to Music set for full move to Epic Studios in Norwich|url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/access_to_music_set_for_full_move_to_epic_studios_in_norwich_1_2331838|accessdate=22 May 2014|newspaper=EDP24|date=13 Aug 2013}}</ref>
The York centre created and organised Access to Music's first trade fair at York St John University in early April 2014 <ref>{{cite news|author=The York Press|title=Access To Music take part in Expo event|url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/music/11123860.Access_To_Music_take_part_in_Expo_event/|accessdate=22 May 2014|newspaper=The York Press|date=3 Apr 2014}}</ref> and Access to Music presented a Masterclass at the first Brighton Music Conference, an electronic music event.<ref>{{cite web|author=Brighton Music Conference |title=Saturday - 10.30-11.15 - 'Access to Music Masterclass' with Jimmy Day |url=http://www.brightonmusicconference.co.uk/exhibition-talks/saturday-master-class-and-showcase-timetable/94-saturday-10-30-11-15-access-to-music-masterclass-with-jimmy-day |publisher=Brighton Music Conference |accessdate=1 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309071100/http://www.brightonmusicconference.co.uk/exhibition-talks/saturday-master-class-and-showcase-timetable/94-saturday-10-30-11-15-access-to-music-masterclass-with-jimmy-day |archivedate=9 March 2014 }}</ref> In the summer of 2014 plans were finalised for a new centre in Manchester, opening in early October. The centre was situated in the basement of the St. James's Buildings on Oxford Street, the former location of the music venues Jilly's Rockworld and Music Box.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Graham|first1=James|title=Music school to open at ex-Rockworld site|url=http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/652206-music-school-to-open-at-ex-rockworld-site.html|accessdate=6 August 2014|publisher=TheBusinessDesk.com|date=4 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Insider News North West|title=Music college for former Jilly's Rockworld site|url=http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/north-west/120596-music-college-former-jillys-rockworld-site/|accessdate=6 August 2014|publisher=Insider Media Limited|date=5 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=MPA|title=Manchester's creative scene set for musical revival with major new academic centre|url=http://www.mpa.org.uk/insight/news/manchester-s-creative-scene-set-for-musical-revival-with-major-new-academic-centre|accessdate=6 August 2014|publisher=MPA}}</ref>
In September 2017, Access to Music released its 2018 further education prospectus<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://issuu.com/accesstomusic/docs/access_prospectus_2018_web|title=Access Prospectus 2018|work=issuu|access-date=2017-12-20|language=en}}</ref> under a new brand name of Access Creative College. It updated its website<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.accesscreative.ac.uk/|title=Access Creative College {{!}} Media {{!}} Games Design {{!}} Music {{!}} Education|website=Access Creative College - the new name for Access to Music|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-12-20}}</ref> shortly afterwards. The name change was introduced to reflect a broader curriculum offer covering the wider creative industries, including games development, digital media, marketing, events and drama.
In February 2020, Access Creative College launched a new joint venture partnership with South Essex College to take over the delivery of apprenticeship training for the creative industries on a national basis, under the National College Creative Industries brand.<ref>{{url|https://www.creativeindustries.ac.uk|www.creativeindustries.ac.uk}} </ref>
On July 25, 2025, Access Creative College (ACC) unexpectedly suspended its Level 1 and Level 2 courses at the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, part of Nottingham Trent University. The decision, attributed to a lack of funding on the part of ACC, reportedly left approximately 300 students without access to their planned education. The timing of the announcement was widely criticised by stakeholders at NTU as inappropriate, as it occurred shortly before the start of the academic year, leaving displaced students with limited time to find alternative educational providers.<ref>{{url| https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1wp93jl1d2o}} </ref>
== Courses and accreditations ==
Access Creative College offers courses in the following pathways: Music, Media, Games, Esports, Computing and Access to HE. The courses at both Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) levels.
The college designed its own FE music curriculum in partnership with Rockschool,<ref name="Rockschool" /> the UK's only rock and pop accrediting body and Edexcel. The HE curriculum was designed in conjunction with RNCM and BCU.
ACC run their Higher Education provision in partnership with dBs and NTU
ACC, in partnership with National College for the Creative Industries (NCCI), also offers apprenticeships in creative subjects.{{cn|date=May 2023}}
==Notable alumni==
* Jess Glynne{{cn|reason=not referenced in the article about her|date=May 2023}} * Rita Ora,<ref>{{cite web|last=Knights|first=Emma|title=Access to Music students get set for an acoustic talent showcase in Norwich|url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/what-s-on/access_to_music_students_get_set_for_an_acoustic_talent_showcase_in_norwich_1_3518039|publisher=EDP24|accessdate=30 April 2014}}</ref> singer-songwriter/actress * Ed Sheeran<ref>{{cite web|title=Student Success Stories|url=http://www.accesstomusic.co.uk/success-stories|website=Access to Music|publisher=Access to Music|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=1 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901233818/http://www.accesstomusic.co.uk/success-stories|url-status=live}}</ref> * Vanessa White, singer-songwriter<ref name="Annalisa">{{cite web|author=Annalisa|title=Music students ride road to success|url=http://Guestlist.net/news/10686/music-students-ride-road-to-success/|publisher=Guestlist|accessdate=30 April 2014}}</ref>
== Event participation ==
Access Creative College has appeared or participated in the following events:
* Brighton Electric<ref>{{cite web|last1=Barker |last2=Coquet |last3=Yau|first1=Matt |first2=Nick |first3=Matthew|title=New In Town: November|date=27 October 2011 |url=http://brightonsource.co.uk/news/new-in-town-november/|publisher=The Brighton Source|accessdate=21 May 2014}}</ref> * Download Festival * Glastonbury Festival<ref>{{cite web|author=Kidz Field|title=Kidz Field Line Up 2013|url=http://kidzfield.com/869/|publisher=Kidz Field|accessdate=22 May 2014}}</ref> * Latitude Festival<ref>{{cite web|author=Culture Works East|title=Latitude Festival Arts Award Programme 2013|url=http://www.nnfestival.org.uk/images/bridge/Latitude_AA_Supporter_Info.pdf|publisher=Culture Works East|accessdate=21 May 2014}}</ref> * Liverpool Sound City<ref name="liverpool" /> * The Great Escape Festival<ref name="greatescape">{{cite web|author=The Great Escape Festival|title=Alternative Escape Programme - Thursday|url=http://greatescapefestival.com/alternative-escape-programme-thursday/|publisher=The Great Escape Festival|accessdate=20 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618104452/http://greatescapefestival.com/alternative-escape-programme-thursday/|archive-date=18 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Education partners ==
* Birmingham City University<ref name="bbcu" /><ref name="bcu" /> * Creative & Cultural Skills * European Social Fund * NCUK * PGL (company) * Royal Northern College of Music<ref name="rncm" />
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
Category:Music education in the United Kingdom