How I became an apprenticeship ambassador

Did you know the county of Cumbria in northern England is well above the national average for apprenticeship uptake? Growing up here, I certainly did. Being surrounded by so many well-known names in industry, such as Sellafield and BAE Systems, local people have always favoured apprenticeships as a popular route. 

Apprenticeships offer many benefits. You earn while you learn, you don’t accumulate any student debt and you make a step into the working world through experience. There is a growing appetite for apprenticeships, with more than 1,500 roles now accessible through an apprenticeship from Level 2 up to Level 7. 

Why I chose an apprenticeship

My passion for apprenticeship advocacy began as a result of rejection. I knew during my school years that the university route wasn’t for me. I was comfortable at home, I wanted to make a difference in my local community and, after doing an internship in the HR department of a local business, I appreciated a hard day’s work. 

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I knew an apprenticeship would allow me to have all of those things, but I underestimated how difficult it would be to secure one. With uptake so high locally, competition for places was vast. It took three years, many applications and even more rejections before I began my Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship in autumn 2021. 

After my own difficulties in securing an apprenticeship, I realised that others must be facing the same experience. 

Becoming an apprentice champion

The Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) was founded in 2006 to inspire the next generation of apprentices by bringing together expertise and knowledge from across industry. By being an ambassador, you have a platform to share your own journey and help other aspiring apprentices. With over 400 apprentice ambassadors and over 800 employer ambassadors across nine regions, the network is expanding every day.