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Association of Apprentices’ CEO Emily Rock Provides Crucial Apprentice Voice Evidence to Education Select Committee

25/04/2025

Emily Rock speaking on Education Select Committee Panel

On Wednesday 23rd April 2025, Emily Rock, CEO of the Association of Apprentices, delivered important evidence to the Education Select Committee, representing the apprentice voice with findings from The BIG Apprenticeship Survey 2024. Her testimony brought the often-overlooked apprentice perspective to the forefront of policy discussions, highlighting challenges and opportunities within the current apprenticeship system.

Emily’s evidence focused on key issues identified in the survey, including apprentice satisfaction rates, barriers to completion, and recommendations for improving apprenticeship quality and accessibility across different sectors.

The session included a panel of industry leaders alongside Emily:

  • Ben Rowland, Chief Executive, Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP)

  • Dr Katerina Kolyva, Chief Executive, Education and Training Foundation (ETF)

  • Jane Hadfield, Co-Chair, The St Martin’s Group and National Lead, Apprenticeships, NHS England

This testimony represents a significant milestone in bringing apprentice voices into policy discussions. The committee’s recognition of the Association of Apprentices as a key stakeholder signals growing awareness of the importance of including apprentice perspectives when shaping future education and skills policies.

Following this evidence session, the Education Select Committee will compile findings from all testimonies as part of their inquiry into Further Education and Skills. Their recommendations may influence future Department for Education policies and potentially lead to reforms that better support apprentices across the UK.

Emily Rock took to LinkedIn to say: ‘Honoured to speak at the Education Select Committee yesterday, giving evidence from the apprentice perspective on behalf of the Association of Apprentices. Apprentices are often the least consulted on policy decisions or working practices, yet impacted the most by changes. Grateful to the Committee for recognising the importance of the apprentice voice and I’m proud that the Association has played a part in this inquiry. Huge thank you to our apprentice members who share their experiences for the benefit of future apprentices and for championing best practice. Great to be with Jane Hadfield, Ben Rowland and Dr Katerina Kolyva FRSA on the panel’.

You can watch the full evidence session here:

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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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