Just over a week
ago, I had the privilege of being in the room with over 500 talented
apprentices, their employers and learning providers at the Asian Apprenticeship
Awards. It was a hugely memorable night and there is still a warm glow in our
office as we read the many emails and social media messages from winners
excited about the opportunities that winning a national award brings.
However, our
aim in setting up the Asian Apprenticeship Awards was so much more than creating
a feel good factor. This is the third year that our team have run the awards.
We set up the event on the back of government research and targets to get more
British Asians to consider the apprenticeship opportunities. The cause is
important as British Asians are significantly underrepresented partly due to
misunderstanding and a certain stigma around this subject. The aim of the awards is to recognise and
celebrate the best and as I have come to appreciate, the best people to promote
apprenticeships is apprentices themselves. This is why we need to bring out the
best of the best, and a competition in the form of awards is a great way to do
just that.
Too many
British Asian young people are making an automatic decision to go to university
without fully considering the alternatives, and then finding their options
limited upon graduation. Just as there is an under representation of British
Asians considering apprenticeships, by contrast there is an over-representation
going to University. We also need to dispel the myth that apprenticeships are
only for the less academic it is more about gaining the right experience while developing
the skills to thrive in a modern workplace. Many of our winners this year are
of graduate calibre, either taking the apprentice route to their degree, or
becoming an apprentice after graduation. We hope the winners will share their journey
and story and encourage others.
Now we are
in year three we have awarded apprentices from all around the country and from
many sectors. Our winners are change makers and role models, their talent is
world class. They all have a story of determination and hard work, many have
overcome family concerns in their chosen career path, and all are conscious of
the influence they have in encouraging other young people to consider the apprenticeship
route. It was a pleasure to meet them, and many of their proud parents, and I
say again, congratulations to them.
Many of our
winners named particularly supportive colleagues and managers in their entries.
The commitment of the employers who were in the room is to be commended, it is
their support that enables their apprentices to thrive. We often hear that
employers are the backbone of our country and there is no doubt about that. It is these businesses that we need to step up
further as these great businesses will make great apprentices, who in turn make
great businesses.
So many
organisations have been highly supportive of the Awards and the vision we are
aiming to achieve. In their centenary year, we were delighted to have the RAF
as our headline sponsor. Each category has its own sponsor, many of whom have
worked with us tirelessly in tandem with us. My, thanks to APM, ICQ, NOCN,
AELP, Pathway Group, Severn Trent, Dudley College, Birmingham Met College, BAME
Apprenticeship Alliance and the East and West Midlands Ambassador Network who continue
to support the awards through challenging times for many in our sector.
Finally, my
personal thanks to all involved for another successful event. We plan to be
back next year and look forward to your support again but in the meantime, the
full list of the 2018 winners is on our website and the full photos from the
evening are also available as below:
