It’s a wrap for National Apprenticeship Week 2018 #NAW18

NAW 2018 wraps up after 5 days of celebratory events that demonstrated how apprenticeships work for individuals, employers, local communities and the wider economy. 

Today (9 Mar) brings to a close the most successful National Apprenticeship Week yet; with unprecedented support received for the week from the apprenticeships community, in the number of events delivered and coverage achieved, both online and in social media.

The ambition of delivering a 10,000 talks movement – #10kTalks – to inspire the next generation of apprentices in schools across the country has been exceeded, reaching over 33,500 people. Over 300 schools joined the 10,000 talks movement and a further 130 schools also hosted teacher-to-teacher talks – reaching an additional 2,300 individuals. The Big Assembly, which tool place on Thursday, reached an additional 20,000 people with a live video stream – showcasing apprentices and employers sharing their apprenticeships stories.

The 11th National Apprenticeship Week (#NAW2018) will bring together employers and apprentices from across England to showcase the success of apprenticeships whilst encouraging even more people to choose apprenticeships as a pathway to a great career.

Friday, 9 March

A fitting end to National Apprenticeship Week 2018 involved 250 apprentices – from across a variety of sectors and job roles – in ‘Class of 2018’ graduation ceremonies, taking place in six prestigious venues across England. Apprentices that have completed their apprenticeship in the last 12 months were recognised and celebrated; whilst showcasing why more people should choose an apprenticeship as a pathway to a great career.

Thursday, 8 March

International Women’s Day on Thursday was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate how ‘Apprenticeships Work for Women’ and highlighted and celebrated the positive impact of female apprentices in workplaces across the country.

The event, taking place on the penultimate day of National Apprenticeship Week 2018, saw Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships Anne Milton and high profile names in business, politics and society address an audience of teachers, apprentices and female business leaders at the National Gallery, London, whilst leading art historian introduced some of the artwork created by women and on show in the Gallery’s collection.

Wednesday, 7 March

Wednesday saw the Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network (ADCN) celebrate its first year with an event dedicated to recognising the achievements of its 50 members – who are all committed to championing apprenticeships and diversity amongst employers. New members, including Channel 4, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, and ITV were welcomed to the network by Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships Anne Milton and Helen Grant, MP and Chair of the network, who acknowledged members commitment to ensuring that their workforce includes apprentices, from all backgrounds.

Tuesday, 6 March

On Tuesday the Minister visited Yorkshire Building Society in Leeds for a Northern PowerHouse event, before a visit to Asda House to meet apprentices. The Minister then moved to Askham Bryan College in York to meet more apprentices from the college. Meanwhile Sue Husband, Director of the National Apprenticeship Service took time to work shadow some apprentices and spent time with Fathima Alim and Christina Janse Van Rensburg, Level 3 business administration apprentices in the Policy Curriculum division at the Department for Education.

Sue Husband spent some of #NAW2018 day 2 work shadowing Department for Education apprentices, finding out more about their role in the public sector.

She was also interviewed by Julia Hartley-Brewer on TalkRadio about National Apprenticeship Week and why apprenticeships are important to individuals, employers, local communities and the economy. You can ‘Listen again’ from tomorrow.

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Anne Milton continued her tour of the country on day 2 of NAW 2018, attending a YBS Group Northern Power House event in Bradford, before travelling to ASDA House in Leeds to meet apprentices.

The tour finished off with a visit to Askham Bryan College in York to meet apprentices and find out more about the apprenticeships available. With so many impressive apprentices and employers met so far, what will tomorrow bring!

Monday, 5 March

The week kicked off on Monday, 5 March with a launch event at the BBC in London with news of a new ground-breaking apprenticeship programme, developed with the Sutton Trust, to support 50 school leavers from socially diverse backgrounds, to apply for apprenticeships.

Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds recognised the ambitions of the BBC and Sutton Trust in his address, whilst reaffirming the crucial role apprenticeships play in helping people realise their potential as they learn and earn.

National Apprenticeship Week 2018 commenced with an event at the BBC and the announcement of a new ground-breaking apprenticeship programme.

With speakers including Secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds MP, Claire Paul, the BBC’s Director of Leadership Development and New Talent, Sue Husband, Director of the National Apprenticeship and hosted by BBC Home Affairs Editor Mark Easton, the event showcased why apprenticeships work and people should choose an apprenticeship as a pathway to a great career.

Also on launch day, Apprenticeship & Skills Minister Anne Milton shared breakfast with apprentices from Kelloggs, based in Manchester. The visit gave the Minister an insight into the apprenticeship programme delivered by Kelloggs. The Minister then visited St Ambrose RC High School where she attended a 10K Talk before chairing a roundtable with young people to discuss their views and their perceptions of apprenticeships. Social media activity saw #NAW2018 and National Apprenticeship Week 2018 trend on social media (Twitter) on launch day – trending top in the UK.

Northern Saints Church of England Primary School in Sunderland gave the thumbs up to a shop floor visit at Unipres UK – on day one of National Apprenticeship Week. These potential future apprentices received a tour of the shop floor from apprentices, before witnessing fanuc robots in action too.

Hastag #NAW2018 and National Apprenticeship Week were both trending on Twitter throughout launch day.

Get involved

Full details of the events happening across England can be found on the events map.