The Young Apprentice Ambassador Network (YAAN) is a community of inspiring apprentices and graduate apprentices who have registered as Young Apprentice Ambassadors in their local area. They promote Apprenticeships to young people and their career influencers endorsing the range of subjects, benefits, progression routes and extensive career opportunities they provide.
The South East region currently has in excess of 100 members. Our aim is to have a significant number of young ambassadors representing the full range and level of apprenticeships to attend careers events, schools and employer facing activities ‘telling their story’ to provide young people, making career choices, with knowledge, facts and prospects.
Lloyd Meredith-Chapman
Working as a Development Co-ordinator for Hampshire County Council, I have a real passion for enabling people to choose the path that’s right for them so that they can fulfil their potential. In my role as Chair of the Young Ambassador Network I advocate and champion the many benefits of Apprenticeships to young people and businesses alike. I am particularly passionate about young people receiving the right information to inform their choices, delivered by passionate professionals and Ambassadors. Too many times I hear young people say that they hadn’t heard about Apprenticeships before; I want that to change.
Ben Clarke
After completing my engineering apprenticeship I took up a role at Superior Seals and have worked in a variety of quality and manufacturing roles. I didn’t realise an apprenticeship was an option when leaving school and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made, therefore I think it’s so important to promote the benefits of apprenticeships. Superior are an internationally recognised manufacturer of precision elastomeric o-rings, seals and special mouldings with approximately 200 employees; this family owned business has offices and manufacturing facilities in Ferndown, Dorset. With its own Academy based on site, it offers apprenticeships to students as young as 16; apprentices learn about engineering, science and manufacturing and are all given the opportunity to gain a degree. Superior has over 30 apprentices at different stages in their programme, including design, manufacturing, maintenance, quality, toolmaking and working in the laboratory.