The East of England Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) is a collaboration of apprenticeship employers and their apprentices, with one shared vision, “Every individual and employer will understand the value of apprenticeships as a route to opportunity and success.”
Amazing Apprenticeships are proud members of the network, which brings together employers from Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Essex, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire to drive an increase in apprenticeship vacancies, inspire future ambassadors and advocate for high quality apprenticeships.
This week over 60 apprentices and employers from the East of England region came together for the AAN Regional Conference, where we heard network updates and gained key insights from speakers.
The Department for Education shared the emerging priorities of Skills England, setting out how they intend to tackle skills shortages by assessing the skills needed for the country. We also heard how Skills England will bring stakeholders together to improve productivity, economic growth and social justice by increasing skill levels, training and job opportunities.
The AAN National leadership team detailed the features and functions of the recently developed AAN portal, and the goals and priorities of the network.
During the conference, we explored the variety of ways that ambassadors can aim to support school and career events by sharing their apprenticeship experiences in school talks, careers fairs, mock interviews, and insight webinars.
Network Co-ordinator, Karen Kelly shared her thoughts on the day.
“It was inspiring to fill a room full of apprenticeship fans discussing future plans, sharing insights, and pledging their support. Our employer and apprentice ambassadors hailed from across the East of England, with one ambassador travelling from Newcastle to attend! The array of employers spans various sectors and sizes, from businesses with hundreds of apprentices to a micro-business that has recently hired its first. Attendees included apprentices in fields such as paralegal, sales, laboratory science, HR, and freight forwarding! The diverse backgrounds of our ambassadors generates a unique energy, all unified by the AAN’s vision”
At the end of the conference, ambassadors were asked to make an action pledge, which may include creating a case study, promoting the AAN through social media, and attending careers fairs and school events. To find out more about the network, please click here.