Hi Everyone, Zach again!

It is autumn, which I am very happy about as it is my favourite season. This month has been great. I have continued my work and enjoy it so much. My college work has progressed, and I have learnt more about marketing theories and all the aspects of a marketing plan. I’ve also enjoyed working from home this month as I’ve enjoyed the atmosphere and immersed myself in the work I love. I have also made the amazing discovery of pumpkin-spiced lattes, a perfect autumnal treat.

Perhaps the most exciting event this month has been attending the Association of Apprentices Big Meet Up.

AOA Big Meet-Up Journey

The Association of Apprentices Big Meet Up took place in Birmingham, so Rahima (another Skills and Education Group Apprentice) and I hopped on a train for what was a very easy journey. We arrived in Birmingham early and decided to go for a delicious Japanese lunch. We both love Japanese food and bubble tea, so it was easy for us to choose a place to eat.

Overview

Attending my first event was undoubtedly nerve-racking as I knew I would have to meet and network with many new people. When we got there, we registered and found a place to sit at the large communal tables designed to encourage conversation with other people. We soon found ourselves chatting with other apprentices, sharing our experiences, learning about different apprenticeship levels and types, and discovering that we were all navigating similar feelings of nervousness and excitement. It was reassuring to know that we were all in the same boat.

The Speakers – Part One

Our first speaker was Emma Nolan, Association of Apprentices council member. She explained the benefits of joining the AOA, including connecting with other apprentices and accessing events and training. I’m excited to find out more about this opportunity.

The next speaker was Sophie Poduval-Morell, creator of Future Faces Chamber of Commerce. Sophia was an amazing speaker and spoke about personal branding. I learnt a lot from her, such as the importance of networking, improving my LinkedIn, and how to improve my image.

Our next speaker was Vinay Parmer, an inspirational keynote speaker on customer experience and winning loyalty. His speech was a real highlight, his personal insights were funny and informative. He talked about customer satisfaction, the customer journey, and the importance of consistency, and I could relate this to the marketing concepts I’ve been studying.

Comfort Break

During a comfort break (that included a drink and biscuits!), we decided to continue networking. We joined a large group at a nearby table, introduced ourselves, and discovered they were also from Nottingham. We had a particularly enjoyable conversation with Alice, an engineering apprentice at E.ON and the University of Nottingham. Her bubbly personality and enthusiasm made her easy to talk to, and I enjoyed learning about her apprenticeship.

The Speakers – Part Two

After the break, Jagdeep Soor from the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards introduced us to finalist Irsa Hussain and winner Umayr Tanveer.

Irsa Hussain’s speech as a multi-cultural apprenticeship finalist was incredibly inspiring. Irsa talked about her struggles and her belief that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Her experiences as a Muslim and Pakistani immigrant in a predominantly white area highlighted the importance of a diverse workplace in creating connections. Despite losing her Muslim support network during the pandemic, Irsa took the initiative to create positive change. She created the change she wanted to see by rebuilding the network and embracing diversity. Her story has motivated me to strive for positive change within my own network.

We also heard from Umayr Tanveer, who won the multi-cultural apprenticeship award. It was really interesting hearing his story. Due to his religious beliefs, he couldn’t take out a student loan, so it was interesting to know why he chose his apprenticeship. Umayr was incredibly inspirational, and I enjoyed his story and advice. I learnt about saying yes to every opportunity!

Jenny Pelling from Kaplan UK led a networking activity where we practised elevator pitches. This exercise helped us introduce ourselves, share our backgrounds, and discuss our apprenticeships. As I networked with different people, I gradually gained confidence and felt more comfortable starting conversations.

I thought the speakers at the event were brilliant. They were so funny, and the way they communicated with us was engaging, which meant I didn’t get bored or struggle to concentrate. Also, a big shout out to Nina Cheesemen, Sophia Ibrahim, Rachel Kayes, and Jamie Pemberton-Legg who hosted the event, and made it very enjoyable.

Pizza and Conclusion

We finished the night with some amazing pizza. I was very happy, as they even had a BBQ. We connected with a few more people and talked more about our apprenticeships.

This has been a great month. I enjoyed my first-ever event and feel more confident about networking and attending events. See you next time.