Coventry was the destination for our quarterly hybrid meeting on the 24 November. Alongside our Apprentice and Employer Ambassadors, it was fantastic to have Mrs Cheshire, Careers Lead and two very articulate students join us from Blue Coat School.
Apprentice Champions shared their activity updates, and were keen to thank our longest service Apprentice Champion Christa, and highlight that a new Apprentice Champion will be required for The Marches region in the new year.
A key focus of our sessions was to examine our outreach to SMEs and Schools in particular, with our eyes on achievement of the national AAN targets. Brainstorming in the room and online, was conducted to discuss the challenges involved in better supporting students and teachers in school with information about apprenticeships and exposure to the experience of apprenticeships.
Mrs Cheshire and the students then shared their perspectives, which were incredibly useful to the day’s theme. We will be better able to shape our approach as a result of the sessions and feedback. West Midlands schools who are not yet engagement with the network will be targeted before Christmas.
Justine from The Ladder shared insights on the Teacher CPD Days coming up on at Millennium Point scheduled for the 4th December, 5th January, 30th April and 9th July. It was great to hear that a young person from Midlands combined authority alternative provision school (who attended a Ladder Skills Academy), secured a part time job with Marstons as a result of their interactive pint pulling sessions!
Think Sandwell reviewed their SME engagement event and thanked the Network for support in putting on a very professional event at the Hawthornes. Over twenty businesses came along, with several subsequently actively looking to take on apprentices. A great result.
Tom Cully, Vice Chair of the AAN updated us on progress against targets. Armed with all the positive energy and activity arising from the brainstorming, WMAAN feel confident that they can head towards National Apprenticeship Week next February, with their heads held high!
Our next meeting is the annual conference during #NAW26, on the 12 February at the inspirational new Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology, in Stafford from 9am-3pm SAVE THE DATE!
