The East Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network supports employers to develop confident, capable and engaged apprentices by creating opportunities beyond the day job.
Through ambassador activity, mentoring and peer support, EMAAN helps employers give apprentices space to grow skills that are often hard to develop in a workplace alone, such as confidence, communication, leadership and self-belief.
Our approach is practical, flexible and designed to work alongside existing apprenticeship programmes.
Developing apprentices through ambassador activity
Supporting an apprentice to become an ambassador is a powerful development opportunity.
Ambassador activity helps apprentices to:
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Build confidence in communication and public speaking
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Develop professionalism and self-awareness
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Learn to represent themselves and their organisation
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Strengthen leadership and teamwork skills
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Reflect on their learning and career journey
These experiences often translate directly back into the workplace, supporting progression, engagement and retention.
Employers regularly tell us that apprentices involved in ambassador activity return more confident, motivated and proactive.
How EMAAN supports apprentice development:
EMAAN provides a supportive structure that allows apprentices to develop at their own page.
This includes:
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Clear guidance on ambassador activity.
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Regular online ambassador meetings every other month.
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Opportunities to share experiences & learn from peers.
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Access to a wider regional network of apprentices.
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Chance to get involved in conferences and awards
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Support before and after activities.
Ambassadors are asked to take part in at least one ambassador activity per quarter & complete a two-question quarterly return with what they did.
Buddying & mentoring
EMAAN recognises that employers are at different stages in their apprenticeship journey.
To support this, the network helps facilitate buddying and informal mentoring. It is informal, supportive and shaped around need. It is not a formal compliance process. We pair:
New or developing apprenticeship employers, with more experienced apprenticeship employers. This peer-to-peer approach allows employers to:
Learn from real experience rather than theory.
Share practical insight on supporting apprentices.
Build confidence in recruitment, onboarding and progression.
Feel supported as part of a wider community.
Working with the network
Employers engaging with EMAAN benefit from:
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A trusted regional network
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Shared learning and good practice
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Opportunities to support apprentice voice
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Stronger links with education and the community
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Development opportunities for apprentices
Involvement is flexible and designed to fit around business priorities.
Employer Activity
Some employers choose to take on a more visible role within EMAAN as employer ambassadors.
Employer ambassadors may:
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Share insight into employing apprentices
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Support regional activity and engagement
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Contribute to discussions on skills and workforce development
If you are interested in becoming an employer ambassador, you can find more information on our Become an Ambassador page.
