AoA Voice

"Apprentices should have stakeholder status alongside employers, providers, and government. AoA Voice ensures their experiences inform and benefit future learners."

- AoA Team
AoA Voice icon

At the Association of Apprentices (AoA), we believe that the most powerful insights come directly from those living the apprenticeship journey. AoA Voice is our initiative to put UK apprentices’ voices, opinions, and lived-experiences at the forefront of our work and the national conversation on apprenticeships.

Insight Reports and Surveys

Our commitment to representing apprentices is reflected in our regular insight reports and surveys. These valuable resources provide a comprehensive view of the apprenticeship landscape in the UK, directly informed by those who matter most – the apprentices themselves. 

The BIG Apprentice Survey 

Our most recent and extensive study, The BIG Apprentice Survey 2024, offers unparalleled insights into the current state of apprenticeships in the UK. This groundbreaking survey, with responses from thousands of apprentices, sheds light on:

  • The value and impact of apprenticeships

  • Challenges faced by apprentices

  • Suggestions for improving the apprenticeship experience

Click on a report to find out more…

Front Cover - The BIG Apprentice Survey 2024 Findings and Insights from Apprentices
Front page of Q3 2023 Insights Report

Bespoke Research Services

AoA offers a unique opportunity for organisations to tap into the apprentice voice through our bespoke survey and polling services. With over 35,000 current and completed apprentices in our membership, we provide access to a diverse and representative sample of the UK’s apprentice population.

Our bespoke research can help:

  1. Inform Policy: Gain insights that can shape and refine apprenticeship policies at both organisational and national levels.

  2. Enhance Apprenticeship Programmes: Understand what works and what doesn’t directly from apprentices to improve your programmes.

  3. Drive Innovation: Identify emerging trends and needs in the apprenticeship space to stay ahead of the curve.

  4. Boost Recruitment and Retention: Learn what attracts and retains apprentices to optimise your talent strategies.

Why the Apprentice Voice Matters

By amplifying the apprentice voice, we’re not just collecting opinions – we’re fostering change. Our insights can lead to:

  • Improved apprenticeship programmes and career progression paths

  • Enhanced learning support and tailored study options

  • Advocacy for increased funding and mental health resources for apprentices

Get Involved

Whether you’re an employer, training provider, or policymaker, AoA Voice offers invaluable insights to drive your apprenticeship strategies forward.

At AoA, we’re committed to ensuring that apprentices are not just participants in their learning journey, but active shapers of the apprenticeship landscape. Together, we can create a brighter future for apprenticeships in the UK.

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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