September 2026 - Edition 7 - A new academic year and plenty to look forward to

.

Welcome to a new academic year from everyone at the East Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network.

September always brings a renewed sense of momentum, as across the region, young people are taking their next steps, new apprentices are joining workplaces, employers are planning for the year ahead and schools and colleges are beginning another busy programme of careers activity.

For EMAAN, there is a huge amount to look forward to too, as over the coming months, we’ll be creating more opportunities for our apprentices and employers to connect with one another, supporting schools and colleges across the East Midlands, celebrating the incredible people and organisations championing apprenticeships in our region and beginning our plans for another fantastic National Apprenticeship Week.

Most importantly, we want our ambassadors to continue shaping the network with us.

Whether that means sharing your apprenticeship story with a classroom, supporting an event, introducing another employer to the network, helping a fellow ambassador or bringing us an idea for something EMAAN could do differently, every contribution helps us make apprenticeships more visible and accessible across the East Midlands.

Here’s what’s happening as we begin the new academic year.

Congratulations to everyone celebrating their results

August was a big month for thousands of people across the East Midlands as Level 2 and Level 3 results were released.

To everyone who received results, congratulations.

Whatever comes next, whether that’s an apprenticeship, further study, employment, university or taking some time to consider the options available, receiving your results marks the beginning of another stage in your journey.

It has also been fantastic to see apprenticeships increasingly forming part of those conversations.

For employers, September is often the point at which a new cohort of apprentices arrives in the workplace. A great apprenticeship experience starts long before assessment, and those first few weeks can have a significant impact on how confident, connected and motivated a new apprentice feels.

Five ways to help a new apprentice get off to a flying start

1. Make their first day feel planned

Think beyond the standard company induction. Make sure they know who they’ll be working with, what their first few weeks will look like and where they can go when they have questions. A thoughtful welcome can make a huge difference to someone entering a workplace for the first time.

2. Help them understand the whole apprenticeship

An apprentice shouldn’t see their job and their apprenticeship as two separate things. Talk through their programme, the skills and knowledge they’ll develop, their off-the-job training and how their everyday work contributes towards their wider development.

3. Give them someone to learn from

A supportive line manager, mentor or buddy can be invaluable. Apprentices need space to ask questions, make mistakes, build confidence and understand how their organisation works.

4. Protect time for development

Learning shouldn’t continually be pushed aside by the pressures of the day job. Create space for training, reflection, meetings with their provider and opportunities to practise new skills in the workplace.

5. Help them build a network

Introduce apprentices to colleagues beyond their immediate team and encourage them to connect with other apprentices. You can also encourage them to become an Apprentice Ambassador through EMAAN, giving them opportunities to share their story, build their confidence and represent apprenticeships across the East Midlands.

A brilliant apprenticeship doesn’t happen by accident. Employers, training providers, managers and apprentices all have a role to play in making it a success.

Employer Ambassadors: help us shape the year ahead

We’re delighted to be bringing our Employer Ambassadors together at the beginning of the new academic year for a dedicated EMAAN Employer Ambassador Meeting held online.

Wednesday 23 September 2026 09:00

Duration: 1 hour

This will be an opportunity to meet our new Employer Chair, connect with fellow ambassadors and have a genuine conversation about what we want the EMAAN to achieve over the year ahead.

During the meeting, we’ll cover:

1. An introduction to our Employer Chair

2. Introductions between our Employer Ambassadors

3. What we want to get from EMAAN membership, both personally and professionally

4. How ambassadors can help and support one another

5. Our early plans for National Apprenticeship Week

6. Ideas and priorities for the network

   
   

We don’t want EMAAN to be something that simply happens around our ambassadors. We want our ambassadors to help shape it.

If you’re an existing Employer Ambassador, we’d love as many of you as possible to join us and contribute to the conversation.

New to EMAAN? Come and meet us

Are you a new ambassador, or know someone who is thinking about joining the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network but wants to understand a little more about what’s involved first?

Our next New Ambassador Welcome Meeting takes place online:

Wednesday 9 September 2026

12:00 – 13:00

The session is designed to introduce you to EMAAN, explain the role of an ambassador and show some of the different ways you can get involved.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before coming along.

If you’re an apprentice or employer who is passionate about apprenticeships and would like to find out how you could use your experience to inspire others, you’re very welcome to join us.

Existing ambassadors who have recently joined the network are equally welcome.

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/352043809506790?p=wdAipd1VSp4C2gC2mm

Know somebody who would make a fantastic ambassador? Please share the invitation with them too.

Celebrating our East Midlands Regional Finalists

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the East Midlands finalists in the National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards 2026.

The awards recognise some of the fantastic apprentices, employers and individuals contributing to apprenticeships and skills across the country, and once again the East Midlands has an outstanding group of finalists.

Well be sharing these on our linked in to in the build up to the awards so remember to share and congratulate them there to.

A huge congratulations to everyone who has reached the regional finals.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Employer of the Year

GXO Logistics UK

LTDLJM Solutions Ltd

Large: 250+ employees

Bowmer and Kirkland

GXO Logistics UK LTD

Priory

Rolls-Royce

SME: 1–249 employees

E E Smith Contracts Ltd

FAIRFIELDS

Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre

Lincolnshire Local Medical Committee Limited

Advanced – Level 3

Aimee Bell

Eve Hunt

Jack Billingham

Jacob Wood

Degree – Level 6 or higher

Ali Amin

Ansh Kumar

Olga Stachowiak

Rosa Wyldeman

Higher – Level 4 or 5

Henishbhai Parmar

Joseph Miller

Macklan Ferrao

Molly Morley

Intermediate – Level 2

Archie Hitchcock

Caitlin Morley

Summer Higgins-Pleasant

Umair Najib

Rising Star of the Year

Ethan Padden

Jack Billingham

Tiegan Manners

William Bonner

Skills Champion

Alonzo Simpson

Charlie Gresswell

Kay Keane

Olivia Brittain

Congratulations to every one of our finalists. Reaching this stage is a fantastic achievement and a brilliant reflection of the talent, commitment and passion for apprenticeships and skills that exists across our region.

We’re looking forward to celebrating with our East Midlands finalists at the regional awards in October at The City Rooms, Leicester.

Good luck to everyone

Upcoming opportunities to get involved

We have a wide range of school and college events coming up across the region, with opportunities for ambassadors to support young people from September right through into the next academic term.

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

This year, we’re particularly encouraging every ambassador to support at least one school or college event through EMAAN if you don’t already have outreach activity planned through your own organisation.

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

9 September 2026, Haven High, Careers Fair, Lincolnshire

16 September 2026 Gedling Borough Council 11am-2pm

Jobs Fair

Nottinghamshire

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, 4pm-6pmPost-16 Evening, Derbyshire

7 October 2026, The Oakwood Academy, 8am-3:10pmCareers Fair, Nottinghamshire

8 October 2026, The Samworth Church Academy, 8am-5:30pmCareers 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, 8am-4pmCareers 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, 4:30pm-6:30pmCareers Fair, Derbyshire

November 2026

2 November 2026, The Bemrose School, 8:30am-1:50pmYear 8 Enterprise Day, Derbyshire

5 November 2026, Park Vale Academy, 8am-12:30pmCareers Fair, Nottinghamshire

5 November 2026, Spalding Academy, Careers Fair, Lincolnshire

10 November 2026, David Nieper Academy 12:00-4:30pm

Careers Fair

Derbyshire

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

Any Wednesday 13:30-14:30, Landau Forte College,

Apprentice experience talk

Derby

Looking ahead to 2027

14 January 2027, Skegness Grammar School, Annual Careers Fair, Lincolnshire

27 January 2027, Eckington School, 9am-1:20pmWhole School Careers Fair, Derbyshire

3 February 2027, University Academy Long Sutton, Super Learning Day – STEM Workshops for Years 7, 8, 10 and 11,Lincolnshire

9 February 2027, Quarrydale Academy, Year 11 Apprenticeship Talk,Nottinghamshire

1–5 March 2027, University Academy Long Sutton, National Careers Week Year Group Assemblies, Lincolnshire

4 March 2027, Rushey Mead Academy, Apprenticeship Information Assembly, Leicestershire

9 March 2027, Lancaster Academy, Living Library, Leicestershire

26 April 2027, University Academy Long Sutton, Super Learning Day – STEM Workshops for Years 9 and 10, Lincolnshire

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, 2027 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

Looking ahead

A new academic year brings a fresh opportunity to make apprenticeships more visible to people across the East Midlands.

Thank you, as always, for the time, experience and insight you bring to the network. Every conversation, school visit, employer story and piece of support helps give students a clearer picture of where an apprenticeship could take them.

There’s plenty coming up over the months ahead, and we look forward to working with you to keep building awareness, strengthening employer engagement and showcasing apprenticeships across the region. Be sure to check out next months issue for Podcast News, Face to Face meetings and socials as well as the regional award results.

In the mean time if you have any questions or successes you would like including in the news letter please feel free to reach out to us.

The EMAAN Team