Welcome to the June EMAAN Newsletter – Edition Four
- EMAAN Ambassador
- Jun 3
- 10 min read
 Welcome to our June EMAAN newsletter. June brings a fresh opportunity to celebrate the strength, reach and ambition of the East Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network. Over the past few months, we have seen Ambassadors giving their time, expertise and lived experience to support schools, employers, apprentices and partners across the region, helping to make apprenticeships more visible, accessible and understood. This edition looks ahead to the next stage of network activity, with a focus on continued collaboration, stronger regional engagement and practical ways for Ambassadors to get involved. As we move through a busy summer period, there are plenty of opportunities to share good practice, support outreach activity, connect with new members and help shape the conversations taking place around apprenticeships. It is also an important time to keep amplifying the apprentice voice. Real stories remain one of the most powerful ways to challenge misconceptions, inspire young people and show employers the value apprenticeships can bring to their workforce. Every Ambassador contribution, whether through an event, a conversation, a case study or a shared contact, helps strengthen that message. Thank you for everything you continue to bring to EMAAN. Your enthusiasm, commitment and regional knowledge are what make the network so valuable, and we look forward to building on this work together throughout June.  Welcome to our new Employer ChairFollowing a competitive election process we have appointed a new Employer Chair Charlotte Baker Hello Ambassadors, My career journey is not a traditional one. I left school at 17, started out in the Civil Service, and later balanced early parenthood with roles as a nursery nurse and teaching assistant. With the encouragement of a manager who recognised my potential, I moved into HR, gaining my CIPD qualifications while working, and have since progressed to become Head of HR for the UK & Ireland at Mediq Healthcare UK. This lived experience gives me a strong belief that talent doesn’t follow a single path. I am passionate about apprenticeships as a powerful route to open doors, build confidence and create real career opportunities. As Employer Chair, I will be focused on strengthening employer engagement, supporting SMEs, and championing the value apprenticeships bring to both people and businesses across the East Midlands. Apprenticeships changed how I see potential. My own career didn’t follow a straight line, and that’s why I’m so passionate about creating opportunities for others. Apprenticeships open doors, build confidence, and give people a real chance to succeed - regardless of where they start. Charlotte
What have you been up to? Help us capture your Ambassador activity As we come towards the end of our first Ambassador quarter of 2026, covering April, May and June, we’d love to hear what you have been up to as an EMAAN Ambassador. One of the key ways we track our progress against network targets is by capturing the brilliant work Ambassadors are doing across the East Midlands. This helps us celebrate your impact, understand where activity is taking place and show how the network is supporting young people, schools, colleges, employers and communities. Your activity might include school or college visits, careers fairs, apprentice talks, employer presentations, SME mentoring, case studies, meetings, partnership work, social media activity or anything else that has helped champion apprenticeships. These updates really matter. Every school visit helps a young person understand the pathways available to them. Every employer conversation helps build confidence and remove barriers. Every shared story helps more people see apprenticeships as a high-quality route into employment, progression and success. Please help us record your activity by completing the quarterly return form via the link below: Thank you for everything you continue to do. Your time, energy and support make a real difference, and capturing this activity helps us make EMAAN’s impact even more visible across the region.
 Apprentice Ambassadors Summer Social Picnic We’re pleased to invite Apprentice Ambassadors to join us for a relaxed summer social picnic at Abbey Park in Leicester. This will be an informal opportunity to catch up, meet fellow Ambassadors and enjoy some time outdoors together. Picnic food will be provided, so you just need to bring yourself, a blanket or chair, and anything else you might like for a relaxed evening in the park. Date: 17 July 2026Time: 5pm onwards Location: Abbey Park, Leicester We would love to see as many of you there as possible. Please let us know if you can make it so we can plan food and arrangements. Click here to let us know you want to attend We look forward to seeing you there.
  Interested in AI, STEM and the future skills workforce? Join the upcoming SBSA x BCS online conference The Strategic Board for Skills Advancement is working in partnership with BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, on an upcoming online conference exploring AI, STEM and the Future Skills Workforce. This event will bring together employers, apprentices, educators, professional bodies and sector partners to look at how AI is changing STEM learning, technical roles and workforce development, and how we can respond in a practical, responsible and professional way. AI is already influencing how people learn, work and make decisions across STEM. The challenge now is how we build confidence, capability and professionalism across the workforce, from apprentices and early-career professionals through to employers, educators and professional bodies. The conference will explore key themes including responsible AI use, digital confidence, professional standards, future skills, apprenticeships and access to opportunity. Attendees will also hear from partners and sector voices about how AI is already being used in practice, and what this means for the future technical workforce. The event will be particularly relevant for:
Event details Date: July - Date to be confirmed Location: Online If you would be interested in attending, please register your interest using the link below, and when the date is set you will be sent a personal invite. Register for the Conference for Free Here  Do you know an SME who could benefit from help from an EMAAN member? Do you know a small or medium-sized employer who is interested in apprenticeships but unsure where to start? As part of EMAAN’s ongoing work to support apprenticeship growth across the East Midlands, we are looking to connect SMEs with experienced Ambassador mentors who can help them better understand, develop and run apprenticeship programmes. This support could be useful for SMEs who:
EMAAN members can offer practical insight, share lived experience and help employers understand the value apprenticeships can bring to their organisation. If you know an SME who could benefit from this support, please get in touch or share the details using the link below. Click this link to share this newsletter Together, we can help more employers feel confident about apprenticeships and create more opportunities across the East Midlands. Click here if you are an SME and need help Click here if you would like to volunteer to help SMEs We need you for the EMAAN websiteWe are excited to continue building out our EMAAN website and would love to showcase more of you, our incredible ambassadors.This is your opportunity to share your story, highlight your impact, and raise your profile across the network and beyond. We are inviting both Apprentice Ambassadors and Employer Ambassadors to be featured. What we are looking forIf you are an Apprentice Ambassador, please share:
If you are an Employer Ambassador, please share:
What to include with your submission
Being featured is a great way to:
If you would like to be included, please send your details and images to the team via the button below. We cannot wait to share your stories. Click here to submit information for the website  EMAAN Podcast Season 2We are delighted to invite 5 Employers to take part in our next Apprenticeship Podcast Recording Event. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your apprenticeship programme, discuss the benefits apprentices bring to your organisation, and share practical tips for aspiring apprentices looking to start their careers. We would also love to hear your thoughts on topics such as:
No previous podcast experience required. Our aim is to create engaging content that inspires future apprentices while providing valuable insights for employers and businesses considering apprenticeships. As a fun added bonus, we are also looking for apprentices who would be interested in interviewing their employers during the recording session. This will provide a unique opportunity to showcase the apprentice-employer relationship and hear first-hand experiences from both perspectives. If you would like to take part, please register your interest in the below link: Click here to register your interest  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. Featured opportunities The Market Bosworth School Activity Week The Market Bosworth School is looking for support as part of its third Activity Week. As part of the week, the school is offering Careers Talks Carousels to its Year 9 cohort, with a focus on skills for KS4. They are keen for an Apprenticeship Ambassador to attend and speak to students about apprenticeship pathways, as there is a growing number of students interested in this route. Date: Tuesday 16 June Session 1: 11:40am to 1:00pm, covering 3 x 20-minute sessions Lunch: 1:00pm to 1:40pm Session 2: 1:40pm to 3:00pm, covering 3 x 20-minute sessions Students select three sessions they would like to attend, and sessions usually include a short presentation followed by time for questions. Sir Christopher Hatton Academy Year 11 Post-16 Information Evening Sir Christopher Hatton Academy is inviting colleges, training providers and employers to attend its Year 11 Post-16 Information Evening on Thursday 17 September 2026. This year, the academy is introducing a new format. Rather than each provider delivering a presentation, colleges, training providers and employers will be based in individual classrooms and learning spaces around the school. This will allow students and parents to have more meaningful one-to-one conversations about courses, apprenticeships, training opportunities and future career pathways. Date: Thursday 17 September 2026 Venue: Sir Christopher Hatton Academy, Wellingborough Arrival and set-up: From 5:00pm Event finish: 8:00pm There will also be two information sessions in the auditorium, led by the Senior Leadership Team, at: 6:00pm7:00pm June 202616 June The Market Bosworth School, Year 9 Careers Talks Carousel County: Leicestershire 16 June, 10:30am to 12:30pm The Becket School, Year 10 Mock Interviews County: Nottinghamshire 17 June, 8:30am to 3:00pm Tibshelf Community School, Personal Development Day County: Derbyshire 18 June, 10:00am to 3:00pm High Pavement Sixth Form, Careers Day County: Nottinghamshire 18 June Broxtowe Borough Council, Employability and Volunteering Fair, Council Chamber County: Nottinghamshire 23 June, 8:50am to 4:10pm Bilborough College, Futures Week County: Nottinghamshire 25 June, 8:30am to 2:55pm The Pingle Academy, Mock Interviews with Year 10 students County: Derbyshire 29 June to 3 July Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology, Year 10 Work Experience County: Nottinghamshire 29 June, 9:00am to 2:05pm The Becket School, Year 12 Careers Carousel County: Nottinghamshire July 20262 July Ivanhoe School, Careers Fair County: Leicestershire 2 July, 9:00am to 3:05pm Da Vinci Academy, Year 10 Mock Interviews County: Derbyshire 3 July The Minster School, Year 12 Progression Day County: Nottinghamshire 3 July, 8:40am to 10:50am St Mary’s Catholic High School, Mock Interviews County: Derbyshire 7 July, 8:30am to 12:30pm Landau Forte College Derby, Year 12 Mock Interviews County: Derbyshire 7 July, 9:00am to 2:30pm Carlton Le Willows Academy, Year 10 Careers Fair County: Nottinghamshire 7 July, 1:15pm to 3:15pm St Thomas More CVA Buxton, Careers Fair County: Derbyshire 7 July, 2:10pm to 2:50pm Redhill Trust Academy, Apprenticeship Ambassador Talk and Q&A Session County: Nottinghamshire 8 July, 8:40am to 10:50am St Mary’s Catholic High School, Speed Networking County: Derbyshire 10 July, 1:30pm to 3:30pm Hope Valley College, Careers Fair County: Derbyshire 13 July South Nottinghamshire Academy, Year 10 Careers Day County: Nottinghamshire 13 July, 8:40am to 3:15pm Outwood Academy Newbold, Year 10 Mock Interviews County: Derbyshire 17 July The Minster School, Year 10 Progression Event, Southwell County: Nottinghamshire 21 July, 1:00pm to 3:30pm The Nottingham Emmanuel School, Year 12 Mock Interview Event County: Nottinghamshire 21 July, 8:40am to 3:15pm Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Employer Day County: Derbyshire 21 July, 8:40am to 3:10pm Derby Cathedral School, Careers Day County: Derbyshire 21 July Nottingham Academy, Mock Interview Day County: Nottinghamshire September 202617 September, 5:00pm to 8:00pm Sir Christopher Hatton Academy, Year 11 Post-16 Information Evening County: Northamptonshire 22 September Lancaster Academy, Careers Fair County: Leicestershire October 20265 October, 3:30pm to 7:00pm Rushey Mead Academy Careers Fair County: Leicestershire 8 October, 5:00pm to 7:30pm The Fernwood School, Careers Convention County: Nottinghamshire 13 October Judge Meadow Community College, College and Careers Fair County: Leicestershire 22 October, 4:30pm to 6:30pm Granville Academy, Careers Fair County: Derbyshire November 20262 November, 8:30am to 1:50pm The Bemrose School, Year 8 Enterprise Day County: Derbyshire 10 November, 12:40pm to 4:30pm David Nieper Academy, Careers Fair County: Derbyshire Flexible opportunitiesDavid Nieper Academy Apprenticeship-focused assemblies, various dates available Get involvedIf you can support any of the above opportunities, 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 A final wordBefore we close, we just want to take a moment to say thank you. You are an incredible community. The energy, commitment and passion you bring to EMAAN does not go unnoticed, and it is what makes this network so special. Thank you for continuing to stay engaged, show up, and make a difference across the region. We would also love to hear more from you. If you have any stories, milestones or events you would like us to feature, please do share them with us. From graduations and completions to new apprenticeship starts, promotions, events or standout ambassador activity, we want to celebrate it all. Let’s continue to shine a light on the amazing work happening across our network. If you would like to share this newsletter with some please click the link below. Click this link to share this newsletter Click here to email us about any ideas or questions you have |
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