Events 2024

AoA hosts regular events, both virtually and in-person, across the country. See the event schedule below. For the most up to date information members can access the live event page on AoA Connect: Upcoming Events | AoA Connect (associationofapprentices.org.uk).

Upcoming Events 2024

The Association of Apprentices is delighted to invite you to our April 2024 Masterclass – Speak with Impact: How to prepare for and deliver an outstanding TEDx talk. 

Like anything, skills can be learnt, and greater skills mean greater confidence.  Public speaking is no different.

This 90 minute masterclass, led by Erica Farmer, Business Director for Quantum Rise Talent Group and TEDx speaker, will provide you with the steps and insight to make your public speaking as good as you want it to be! You’ll have skills to take away and practice, an idea of how your passion can translate into a speaking experience, and the 3 foundational points any great talk has.  This will include;

  • The top skills you need to feel confident.
  • The importance of a great structure starting with a great hook.
  • Why using a story helps you to stand out.
  • What speakers do to land a TEDx.
  • Practical tools to take away and try straight away.
*Important homework : Prior to the session, watch a few talks – no matter what the content – and pick the one you think is the best. Then write a list of 3 things to why you think that. Bring the list to the session.

Together with our partners at Manchester Metropolitan University, and with the support of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, we are hosting the AoA’s Spring Flagship #ApprenticeMeetup.

As always, we will be organising some amazing speakers, fun games, and the opportunity to network and make friends with other apprentices. This will be a great opportunity to notch up some Continued Professional Development hours!

This event is FREE for all apprentices and those who have just completed an Apprenticeship.

The event runs from 1pm – 7pm which will include the development and networking sessions. There is also an option to register solely for the networking session 4-7pm. Further details and an agenda will follow. Refreshments will be provided.

Sign up now* to avoid disappointment and do share this event with your apprentice friends and colleagues.

In this bonus masterclass, led by Gray Mytton you will discover that by combining your unique human capabilities with a strategic understanding of AI, you can position yourself for success in a rapidly evolving professional landscape. We will explore:

  • In what areas AI demonstrates proficiency?
  • Approaches to tackle apprehensions regarding AI-induced job displacement.
  • Unique capabilities humans possess and AI lacks?
  • How can you use this insight to propel your career forward?

Meet your host – Gray Mytton, Assessment Innovation Manager at NCFE. Gray is a key part of the Assessment Innovation team at NCFE. His work identifies and develops assessment solutions that will enhance teaching, learning and assessment for the benefit of future learners. By providing insight to NCFE colleagues about how our assessment solutions should be developed, he helps NCFE to meet the complex demands of the future. 

Gray has developed a specialism in the use of AI in assessment approaches, managed a number of innovation projects from conception to implementation, and supported wider NCFE social investment initiatives. 

The Association of Apprentices would like to invite you this BONUS expert virtual masterclass, exclusive to AoA members, designed to assist you in maximising your potential and becoming the most successful version of yourself.

In preparation for Mental Health Week 2024, Micha Reynolds founder of Bee Inspired, will bring you this 90 minute self compassion masterclass where you will discover:

  • The science of self-compassion to approach challenges with resilience.
  • Plus how to unlock your full potential and achieve your goals, whilst feeling great in the process.

Meet your host – Micha Reynolds who began her career developing projects and leading a team of 100+ volunteers in the charity sector. Following a love of learning, Micha brings a host of evidence based practice and life experience to her group coaching sessions to guide others towards their potential. She holds qualifications in Mental Health, Mindset, Personal Training and Nutrition. She is due to finish a Masters in the Psychology of Well-being in 2024.

The Association of Apprentices is delighted to invite you to our May 2024 Masterclass – Harmony within: Striking a balance between work and life for enhanced wellbeing and stress management.

This thought provoking session, in our highly esteemed 2024 virtual masterclass series, is exclusively reserved for our valued AoA members. It has been thoughtfully crafted to empower you, enabling you to become the best version of yourself and embrace continual growth.

In this 90 minute stress management masterclass, led by Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, Dr Josephine Perry, Director of Performance in Mind, you will discover:

  • How, as our work and home life intertwine more than ever before, it is imperative to employ effective strategies that safeguard our mental well-being.
  • 3 key functions of the brain, how to handle your threat function becoming overwhelmed and some key tools to facilitate this.
  • What your stressors are (those coming from day-to-day life and those in performance), and how to develop stress and coping strategies so you feel better able to manage whatever is thrown at you.

With our partners at Staffordshire University, we are hosting the AoA’s May 2024 #ApprenticeMeetup. By popular demand, this will be our first time in Stoke!

As always, we will have amazing speakers and the opportunity to network with other apprentices. This will be a great opportunity to notch up some OTJ/CPD hours, too!

This event is FREE for all current and completed apprentices.

The event runs from 4pm – 7pm and refreshments and pizza will be provided. You do not have to be a member to attend so please share the link with your apprentices networks.

We acknowledge the concerns about EPA from member feedback as this is a crucial phase in the apprentice journey. We are pleased to invite you to attend this EPA Clinic aimed at enhancing your online presentation skills and distinguishing you from others.

In this 60 minute Clinic, led by expert Andy Pollard, Senior Delivery Manager – EPA & TPCA Content at Pearson, you will discover:

  • Best practice tips for using online remote communication methods.
  • How to employ appropriate techniques when presenting during EPA.
  • How to anticipate and overcome common IT barriers.
    Methods to develop your confidence when presenting online
This event will provide you with the opportunity to ask an EPAO about your challenges directly. Pearson 

The Association of Apprentices is delighted to invite you to our June 2024 Masterclass – Confidence in the workplace: Navigating challenges, conflict, and criticism with ease.

This workshop is part of our highly esteemed 2024 virtual masterclass series and is exclusively reserved for our valued AoA members.  It has been thoughtfully crafted to empower you, enabling you to become the best version of yourself and embrace continual growth.

This “Confidence in the workplace” masterclass looks to help deal with early career anxieties by exploring what is confidence, and how it can be created, affected and applied.  

During the masterclass participants will:

  • Understand where confidence comes from and why it can disappear
  • Explore tools and techniques to boost confidence in our professional and personal lives to maximise performance. 
  • Explore the psychology of confidence and how we can train our brains to boost confidence and performance

 

The Association of Apprentices is delighted to invite you to our September 2024 Masterclass – Unleash Your Inner Drive: The power of motivation. 💪🏽 

This profoundly insightful session in our 2024 virtual masterclass series, is exclusively reserved for our valued AoA members. It has been thoughtfully crafted to empower you, enabling you to become the best version of yourself and embrace continual growth.

In this 90-minute session, you will be provided with the necessary tools and guidance to inspire and motivate you.  Led by Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, Dr Josephine Perry, Director of Performance in Mind, this workshop will:

  • Based on the theory of Self-Determination, develop your intrinsic motivation, making tasks and challenges more enjoyable and accessible.
  • Learn the ABCDE of motivation: Autonomy (and where autonomy is not available, your psychological safety), Belonging, Competency, Delight and Engagement.
  • Develop tools and strategies to use the five elements of the ABCDE of motivation to ensure you can reach your potential.

The Association of Apprentices is delighted to invite you to our October 2024 Masterclass – Emotionally savvy: Navigating life with emotional intelligence. 

This knowledge-packed session in our highly esteemed 2024 virtual masterclass series is exclusively reserved for our valued AoA members. It has been thoughtfully crafted to empower you, enabling you to become the best version of yourself and embrace continual growth.

In this 90 minute Emotional Intelligence (EI) masterclass, led by Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, Dr Josephine Perry, Director of Performance in Mind, You will uncover your true capacity to perceive and honestly convey your emotions. Gain insight into the underlying reasons behind them, as well as the impact they have on your life. Plus consider:

  • When you have higher levels of EI you get better at regulating your emotions, so they can actually help rather than hinder you in reaching your goals.
  • Tools to monitor your emotions and grow your emotional vocabulary in order to increase your EI.
  • Strategies to pre-plan responses to common emotions and prepare for difficult situations.

The Association of Apprentices is delighted to invite you to our December 2024 Masterclass – 2024 December Masterclass – Discovering You: The Journey to Self-Awareness. 

This workshop is part of our highly esteemed 2024 virtual masterclass series and is exclusively reserved for our valued AoA members.  It has been thoughtfully crafted to empower you, enabling you to become the best version of yourself and embrace continual growth.

This “Discovering you” Masterclass will use the “viacharacter strengths finder” questionnaire to explore participants’ strengths and we will look at how to use them to become more effective in your work and personal life.

During the Masterclass participants will:

  • Learn why playing to your strengths is more important than improving your weaknesses.
  • Take the online test (email required to receive results) and learn your top 5 ‘Signature Strengths’.
  • Create an action plan for how you can use these strengths more frequently.

Past Events 2024 - Some are available to stream on AoA On Demand

Roundtable with Seema Malhotra MP, Shadow Skills Minister, and apprentice members of the Association of Apprentices
Master the art of personal resilience cover image featuring woman smiling

Plus many more available on AoA On Demand, now.

Jan Richardson-Wilde

CEO, Occupational Awards Limited

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.

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