The Black Apprentice Network (BAN)

WE ARE LIVE!⚡️ We hosted our first official event, and it was a smashing success. Sold out almost instantly every time we increased capacity! That’s what we love to see. We were a family of 100 people on Friday! Planting seeds: cultivating lifelong relationships 🌱☀️ . Just like the name of the event says, our goal was to enable young black professionals and students to develop professional relationships with each other. We wanted to provide the opportunity for aspiring apprentices to meet role models who have a similar background to each other. We started with an introduction to the mission of The Black Apprentice Network (BAN), what we plan to do, what we have done and what matters to us. We were able to share our experiences and provide advice via our two panels. Special shout-out to our panellists‼️ With our first panel consisting of Fenton, Alisha, Kwesi and Safiya. Then Sydney, Naomi, Lamar and Rubin on our second panel. Apprentices in all different industries and an aspiring apprentice who managed to land multiple offers from large organisations. We talked about their reasons for choosing apprenticeships over the traditional university route, how their friends/family reacted, how they plan to leverage their position as an apprentice for their careers and a range of questions from the aspiring apprentices. Thank you to everyone that shared their unique experience of apprentices from African and Caribbean heritage. 🗣 We had an exciting evening of networking afterwards where we made sure our aspiring apprentice and current apprentices connected. Our apprentices were excited to share their experiences, and we saw our ambitious aspiring apprentices go the mile to connect and learn. One thing that stood out was the energy of the room and how comfortable everyone was to be among their peers. Good vibes and enjoyment that’s what we expect to bring to every event🤩. If you are currently an apprentice or aspire to be one, are from African or Caribbean heritage, make sure to look at our page and join our community. https://lnkd.in/emPmHhn3 Next stop: The Midlands 👀 XX/05/2023 #community #network #blackexcellence #apprenticeship #socialmobility #opportunity #blackapprenticenetwork

For those that think they know what great apprenticeship applications look like... 😁 You are wrong 🙅♂️ Great apprenticeship applications are not about having the greatest resume (Check out what great applicantions are below 👇). Great apprenticeship applications are a constant effort to put your best foot forward at each stage of the application process. Great applications help you get apprenticeship roles but only having a great resume sets you up to fail at the next application stage.

Not another one... 😡 ...and another one... 🤦 ...AND ANOTHER ONE... 😭 It can be discouraging getting constantly rejected in your applications 😥 However: “A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.” Keep showing up everyday.

Who else is starting to get tired of balancing school, events, university applications, fried rice (this time 😅), work, family, apprenticeship applications... We get it, we get it... But hang in there even if it's just today... You've got this 😁

Rejection after rejection after rejection... 😡 Sick of it 😡 For you guys getting those ight now in your apprenticeships, we have somthing for you: “Every champion was once a contender that didn’t give up.” – Gabby Douglas

Unpopular opinion: For the vast majority of young people, apprenticeships will accelerate their lives financially, way more than solely degrees could.

There is a secret... 🤫 (Shhhhh) ...that unsuccessful applicants are still lost about (don't be this person ❌ ) Apprenticeship applications are: 100% Resumes, 100% Psychometric testing, and 100% Assessment Centres and 100% Interviews. All of them are important... ...because if you fail at one you do not progress.

When we see people get their apprenticeships in September, we do celebrate but with a grain of salt 🧂 ...Why? It's because the best type of apprenticeship applicants aren't the people that instantly get a role in September. It isn't the ones who get great grades. It isn't even the ones who show incredible professionalism. What is it then? It is the ones who stay consistent. Even in the midst of your A-Level and college exams, it's the ones that are still applying and putting themselves out there. Good luck to those still doing it.

Apprenticeships offer a clear career path, while university degrees can be aimless 🤷♂️ You have the opportunity with apprenticeships to learn valuable skills which contribute to a professional working environment 🙈 Through building on this foundation 🧱... ...you get the opportunity to continue on the path and get more senior or gain more responsibility 💼... ...or through building that foundation, commit oneself to slight pivots until one finds their path 🗺️ What do you think 🤷♂️

"Speech, speech, speech, speech" ✊ Okay, okay, he's what we got for you aspiring apprrentices... 😃 Hey everyone! It’s a brand new week, and we’re here to kick it off with some inspiration! 💪 ✨“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pelé Let's get those A-Levels, Let's crush it in college, let's get those apprenticeship applications, lets work ✊