Institute of Employability Professionals becomes latest Alliance Patron

The Institute of Employability Professionals is the latest Patron of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance. 

The Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance, formerly the BAME Apprenticeship Alliance, is part of the The Pathway Group, and its purpose is to promote Social Mobility and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion through apprenticeships and employability. 

Pathway is a national skills and employability provider.

The alliance is made up of 19 corporate partners, including some of the world’s biggest and well-known brands such as Coca-Cola, Bentley, The Co-operative Society, The Open University, and the NHS.

“The Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance is a movement that we are building to encourage leaders to come together and discuss issues around multi-culturalism and equity of opportunity for marginalised communities,” said,” Jagdeep Soor FIEP, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Pathway Group.

“There is an information gap around apprenticeships and employability within the multi-cultural communities, as an alternative option to higher education and as a pathway to building a successful career.

“Our aim is to be the go-to organisation for information, thoughts, views and opinions on multi-cultural apprenticeships and to promote apprenticeship and employability opportunities to multi-cultural communities. 

“As a Fellow of the IEP, together with my colleagues at Pathway Group namely, Safaraz Ali (FIEP) and Ahsan Husain (FIEP) and as a Corporate Affiliate Partner of the IEP, we recognise the important platform the IEP offers in championing employability and supporting those who work in the sector, so that they can support others.”  

“Having the IEP on board as one of our Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance Patrons will help us raise awareness of what we stand for and what we aim to achieve, thereby, encouraging the adoption of apprenticeships which would strengthen and improve their growth opportunity.

Scott Parkin FIEP, Chief Executive of the IEP said that that it believes the alliance can play and important role in improving employability and raise awareness of apprenticeships.

“The IEP is pleased to be part of this important alliance to help support social mobility, and equity of opportunity for the multi-cultural community,” he said.

“We believe strongly in creating and promoting equal opportunities for all.’ 

“There is talent everywhere, but opportunity is not always readily available or accessible to everyone. 

“The future possibilities and outcome for people should not be determined by their background or the community they belong to.  In becoming a Patron, we are showing our commitment to helping the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance achieve their mission to prepare and connect underrepresented talent to high-quality apprenticeships and build workplaces that promote diversity.

Safaraz Ali, Founder of Multicultural brands incorporating the alliance and the awards, believes the involvement of the IEP is an important development for the alliance.

“We appreciate the IEP in committing to the alliance and supporting us in this cause and also want to give a special thanks to all our Patrons that have worked with us over the years,” Mr Ali said.

“They are the true champions of change, without them supporting us and making the impact to what an inclusive tomorrow looks like, we would be lost.”

In addition to the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance, The Pathway Group also hosts an annual Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards which celebrates the achievements of individual apprentices while reflecting on the needs of businesses.

Pathway also leads the Apprenticeship Diversity & Social Mobility Forum (ADSFM), a leadership forum aimed at sharing knowledge and insights for social and economic development and also host, the Festival of Apprenticeships, a series of events that advocates and promotes the value apprenticeships can offer to young people and empower them with the knowledge and expertise on how to identify and apply for the one that is right for them, from the wide range of apprenticeships available.

For more information about the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards or to enquire about how to be a Patron contact [email protected].

The Pathway Group is hosting a webinar entitled ‘Enabling Social Mobility in Apprenticeships – The Apprenticeship Diversity and Social Mobility Forum’ on Wednesday, November 16.

The event is suitable for senior managers and free to attend. Find out more and register at this link: https://www.crowdcast.io/c/adsmf-enabling-social-mobility-in-apprenticeships

Pictured from left Jagdeep Soor, Scott Parkin and Safaraz Ali