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The Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) is a network of engaged and committed employers and current/past apprentices in England.
There are over 2,000 ambassadors, based in 9 regions, covering all of England. Each Region has an employer and an apprentice ambassador chair.
Members of the AAN, as volunteers, share their experiences and best practice. They act as a trusted voice to advocate and promote the programme to other employers, potential apprentices, and stakeholders.
The primary aim of the AAN is to support the delivery of a high-quality apprenticeships programme. Members of the AAN will support Government in enabling employers and wider stakeholder to realise the benefits and aims of the apprenticeships programme.
AAN members through engagement support Government priorities for the apprenticeship programme. Namely through the objectives defined by the AAN National Leadership Team.
(i). Ambassadors will work with every secondary school and college in England (3,500) by March 2026.
(ii). Ambassadors will buddy/mentor with 3,000 small businesses to support their apprenticeship journey by March 2026
SME Buddying/Mentoring
SME Buddying/Mentoring is an individual interaction with a small business to support their engagement with apprenticeships. This could be in person or online/phone. Ideally an ambassador can share their own experience of apprenticeships, and the benefits apprenticeships can bring to an organisation but here are some examples of specific activities that could be included:
- Help with the Digital Apprenticeship System
- Signposting to guidance/rules
- Helping to find relevant apprenticeship standards.
- Helping to find training providers.
- Support around the transfer of funds – more than just the financial transfer.
- Help with recruiting an apprentice.
- Sharing apprentice candidates with SME’s
- Sharing good practice guidance with SME’s
AAN – SME – South East Contact
If you are interested in receiving advice and support from an employer ambassador who can give practical advice based on their own experience and can showcase the benefits apprenticeship bring to their own organisation please contact AAN South East Region Team on info@seaan.org.uk or the AAN central contact mailbox – aan.enquires@education.gov.uk
SMEs and Apprenticeships
- Around 40% of apprenticeship starts are in SMEs – SMEs account for more than 100,000 apprenticeship starts each year.
- 67% of apprentices who started an apprenticeship at an SME in 2021/22 were aged under 25.
- 24% of apprentices who started an apprenticeship at an SME in 2021/22 were from the most deprived 20 per cent of areas, according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation .
- 79% of apprenticeship starts in the construction sector were in SMEs in 2021/22
- Government spent around £700 million in the 2023-24 financial year supporting apprenticeships in non-levy paying employers who are typically SMEs.
- Government pays 100% of apprentice training costs for employers who do not pay the levy when they take on apprentices aged 16-21, and apprentices aged 22-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan or have been in local authority care.
- For all other apprentices, employers that don’t pay the levy are required to co-invest 5% towards apprentice training costs. For a Level 2 bricklayer apprentice where the funding band maximum is £13,000 – this would mean maximum employer contribution of £650 with government funding up to a maximum of £12,350.
- Government also provides £1,000 to all employers (and training providers) when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) or have been in care. They can choose how they spend this and it can be used to support apprentice wage costs, their uniform or travel costs.
- Employers are not required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year).
