The Association of Apprentices provides further opportunities for our apprentices to create external networks, peer to peer learning and personal and career development - enriching their experience as an apprentice and beyond.”
Discover The Big Apprenticeship Thank You 2026, returning for National Apprenticeship Week with exclusive rewards for apprentices including free Pret coffee, £5 Prezzo pizza and prize draws. Registration opens 1 December via the Association of Apprentices.
The BIG Apprentice Survey 2025 is now open, giving apprentices across the UK the chance to shape the future of apprenticeships. Last year, over 2,000 apprentices shared their insights. This year, we’re aiming even higher.
In a heartfelt farewell, Emily Rock reflects on her journey building the Association of Apprentices into a thriving 50,000-strong community, as she prepares to hand over leadership to incoming CEO Lindsay Conroy in January.
The Association of Apprentices (AoA) has announced the appointment of Lindsay Conroy as its new Chief Executive Officer, as part of a planned leadership transition. Current CEO Emily Rock, who has established AoA as the national voice for apprentices, will work closely with Lindsay until January 2026 to ensure a smooth handover. The change marks an exciting new chapter of growth and influence for the organisation.
Jan is the CEO of Occupational Awards Limited, a Director of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink and an FE College Governor. She has over 35 years’ experience in the education sector in strategic and operational management of training programmes with colleges, private training providers, local authorities the voluntary sector and not for profit organisations. Jan has previously been a board member of the Learning and Skills Council, chair of the North Yorkshire Training Provider network and Vice-Chair of Yorkshire Coast College and a Governor of the Grimsby Institute for Further and Higher Education. She has extensive experience of education policy, apprenticeships, qualification, and curriculum development as well as business improvement.
Jan joined OAL in 2019, a leading non-profit industry-focused Awarding and End-Point Assessment Organisation, supporting a wide range of employers and of key stakeholders to succeed and surpass expectations. Jan is committed to continuous improvement and enthusiastic about improving the effectiveness, impact and quality of apprenticeships, education, and training in the UK and internationally. She has a wide range of experience of working in a collaborative context with employers and training providers to develop End Point Assessment, apprenticeships, and a wide range of vocational programmes.
