August 2026 Edition 6 - Help us inspire the next generation this September

Welcome to the August Newsletter for EMAAN, this special summer edition looks ahead about how you can help make a difference.As schools and colleges prepare for the start of the new academic year, careers teams across the East Midlands are already planning events to help young people understand their future options.

Many are looking for employers and apprentices who can bring apprenticeships to life by sharing their knowledge, experiences and career journeys.

This August, we have one important ask for every member of the EMAAN community:

Could you support just one school or college event?

We’re asking every Employer Ambassador and Apprentice Ambassador to choose one event from the opportunities listed below and sign up to support it.

Whether you can attend a careers fair, join a panel discussion, deliver a short talk or simply have conversations with students, your involvement can make an enormous difference.

If every Ambassador supports just one event, together we can reach schools and colleges across the whole region, introduce thousands of young people to apprenticeships and ensure they receive information directly from the people who understand them best.

Why your involvement matters

Young people are often aware of the traditional academic routes available to them, but many still don’t fully understand what an apprenticeship involves or the opportunities it can create.

Employer Ambassadors can provide valuable insight into the skills organisations need, the programmes available and the career opportunities apprenticeships can unlock.

Apprentice Ambassadors can share an honest and relatable perspective on applying for an apprenticeship, balancing work and study, developing confidence and progressing in their careers.

A single conversation could introduce a young person to an opportunity they hadn’t previously considered.

One event may only take a small amount of your time, but its impact could last throughout someone’s career.

Our Quarter 1 progress (April - June)

57 schools and colleges supported

Ambassadors have delivered an event or activity in 57 individual schools and colleges across the East Midlands.

This represents 56% of our target of 101 schools and colleges.

Each school is only counted once, regardless of how many activities have taken place, so this figure reflects the breadth of our reach across the region.

There are still 44 schools and colleges to support, and the beginning of the new academic year gives us an important opportunity to build on this progress.

83 SMEs supported

EMAAN members have also buddied or supported 83 small and medium-sized employers on their apprenticeship journey.

This represents 72% of our target of 115 SMEs, leaving just 32 more businesses to reach.

Thank you to everyone who has offered their experience, shared practical advice and helped employers understand how apprenticeships can support their organisation.

Help us reach every part of the East Midlands

The progress we’ve made is only possible because of the time, energy and experience contributed by our Ambassador community.

By choosing one event this autumn, you’ll help us:

• Reach more schools and colleges across the East Midlands

• Give young people access to genuine apprenticeship experiences

• Help careers teams provide balanced information about future pathways

• Connect employers with their future workforce

• Challenge outdated perceptions about apprenticeships

• Inspire the next generation of apprentices

Upcoming opportunities to get involved

We have a wide range of school and college events coming up across the region.

These opportunities are a fantastic way to represent EMAAN, inspire the next generation, and support employers, educators, students and parents in understanding apprenticeships.

Whether you can support a single event or multiple activities, your contribution makes a real difference. If you would like to volunteer your time and get involved, please get in touch with the EMAAN team.

September 2026

First week of September 2026, Avanti Fields School,

Year 10 and Year 11 Apprenticeship Workshop or Assembly,

Leicestershire

9 September 2026, Haven High,

Careers Fair,

Lincolnshire

17 September 2026, Sir Christopher Hatton Academy,

Year 11 Post-16 Information Evening,

Northamptonshire

17 September 2026, The Brunts Academy,

Careers Fair,

Nottinghamshire

22 September 2026, Lancaster Academy,

Careers Fair,

Leicestershire

23 September 2026, Tibshelf Community School,

Personal Development Day,

Derbyshire

24 September 2026, Avanti Fields School,

Careers Fair,

Leicestershire

25 September 2026, Kibworth Mead Academy,

Year 10 Apprenticeship Speed Networking,

Leicestershire

29 September 2026, Skegness Grammar School,

Professionals Day,

Lincolnshire

October 2026

1 October 2026, Kibworth Mead Academy,

Year 11 Post-16 Fayre,

Leicestershire

5 October 2026, Rushey Mead Academy,

Post-16 Careers Fair,

Leicestershire

7 October 2026, Da Vinci Academy,

Post-16 Evening,

Derbyshire

7 October 2026, The Oakwood Academy,

Careers Fair,

Nottinghamshire

8 October 2026, The Samworth Church Academy,

Careers Fair,

Nottinghamshire

8 October 2026, The Fernwood School,

Careers Convention,

Nottinghamshire

8 October 2026, Cowley Academy,

Careers Fair,

Lincolnshire

8 October 2026, The Market Bosworth School,

Post-16 Evening,

Leicestershire

13 October 2026, The Priory Belvoir Academy,

KS4 Information Event,

Leicestershire

13 October 2026, Judgemeadow Community College,

College and Careers Fair,

Leicestershire

14 October 2026, Swanwick Hall School / The Two Counties Trust,

Careers Fair,

Derbyshire

14 October 2026, Madani Schools Federation,

Careers Event,

Leicestershire

15 October 2026, Bourne Academy,

Careers Fair,

Lincolnshire

20 October 2026, Whittington Green School,

Post-16 Event and Apprenticeship Information,

Derbyshire

22 October 2026, Granville Academy,

Careers Fair,

Derbyshire

November 2026

2 November 2026, The Bemrose School,

Year 8 Enterprise Day,

Derbyshire

5 November 2026, Park Vale Academy,

Careers Fair,

Nottinghamshire

5 November 2026, Spalding Academy,

Careers Fair,

Lincolnshire

11 November 2026, Fullhurst Community College,

Careers Fair,

Leicestershire

19 November 2026, Giles Academy,

Careers Fair,

Lincolnshire

23 November 2026, Kibworth Mead Academy,

Year 9 Apprenticeship Speed Networking,

Leicestershire

December 2026

1 December 2026, The Brunts Academy,

Mock Interviews,

Nottinghamshire

2 December 2026, The Brunts Academy,

Mock Interviews,

Nottinghamshire

Flexible / date to be confirmed

Date to be confirmed, Nottingham College,

Meet the Employer Careers Fair,

Nottinghamshire

Date to be confirmed, Wrenn School,

STEM Apprenticeship Panel,

Northamptonshire

Date to be confirmed, Magnus Academy,

Careers Fair,

Nottinghamshire

Date to be confirmed, Rawlins Academy,

Year 10 Careers Day,

Leicestershire

Date to be confirmed, David Nieper Academy,

Apprenticeship-Focused Assemblies for Years 8 and 9,

Derbyshire

Looking ahead to 2027

14 January 2027, Skegness Grammar School,

Annual Careers Fair,

Lincolnshire

27 January 2027, Eckington School,

Whole School Careers Fair,

Derbyshire

4 March 2027, Rushey Mead Academy,

Apprenticeship Information Assembly,

Leicestershire

9 March 2027, Lancaster Academy,

Living Library,

Leicestershire

6 May 2027, Lancaster Academy,

Year 10 Taster Workshops,

Leicestershire

May 2027, The Brunts Academy, Year 10

Work Experience,

Nottinghamshire

Before January 2027, Avanti Fields School,

Year 8 Apprenticeship Workshop or Assembly,

Leicestershire

Before January 2027, Avanti Fields School,

Year 9 Apprenticeship Workshop or Assembly,

Leicestershire

Date to be confirmed, Whittington Green School,

Year 11 Apprenticeship Assembly,

Derbyshire

National Careers Week 2027, Fullhurst Community College,

Careers and Apprenticeship Talks,

Leicestershire

National Apprenticeship Week 2027, Fullhurst Community College,

Apprenticeship Talks,

Leicestershire

Get involved

If you can support any of the opportunities above, please contact the EMAAN team.

Let’s continue to inspire, support and create opportunities together.

Email us here to sign up to one of the outreach event 

Will you pledge to support one event?

Review the opportunities above, choose the event that works best for you and register your interest.

Every Ambassador has a story worth sharing. Every conversation can create an opportunity. Together, we can make sure young people across the East Midlands understand where an apprenticeship could take them.

Thank you for being part of EMAAN and for continuing to champion apprenticeships across the region.

The EMAAN Team