Moving on Up network visits BBC Headquarters to focus on care-experienced young people and apprenticeships.

As part of National Care Leavers’ Month, Amazing Apprenticeships convened over 70 members and supporters of the Moving on Up network at the BBC Headquarters to focus on care-experienced young people and apprenticeships.

Hosted by Jonny Hoyle, Chair of the Moving On Up Network, we heard from a range of guest speakers including Kate Ridley-Pepper, Director, Work Based Skills, Department for Work and Pensions and received a very special video message from Jacqui Smith, Minister of State for Skills and Minister for Women and Equalities, working across both the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions.

We listened to an expert panel of care-experienced young people, hosted by Dyllan of Catch 22, where Abbie, Aisha, Leo, Grace guided us through their insights into what works (and what doesn’t) in apprenticeships, giving the audience a lot to think about and some clear and actionable advice for what needs to change.

We then heard from the employer and policy expert panel, hosted by Sarah Moors, Head of Apprenticeships at the BBC. The panel included Phil Warnock, CEO of Ginger Nut Training, Lucy Hunte, National Programme Manager for Apprenticeships with NHS England, Claire-Emily Martin, a Senior Associate with ReGenerate, Charlotte Bosworth, CEO of Lifetime Training and Paul Russell, a Policy Adviser within the Department for Education.
The panel shared examples of their work, and the impact of changes that can be made to both attitudes and approaches when it comes to effectively supporting care-experienced apprentices to thrive.

The event also saw the release of two new resources to support care-experienced individuals:

The first, a transformative AI tool, ‘The Apprenticeship Buddy’, through the Moving On Up Network, in partnership with Leading AI and Amazon Web Services (AWS). This brand-new platform has been designed to help care-experienced young people, their supporters and employers by providing clear, accurate answers to their questions based on best practice and official government guidance.

The second, a new ‘Top Tips’ guide, sharing advice that has come directly from conversations and expert presentations that have been held through the Moving On Up network meetings. The team has explored more than 30 hours of content to find the key pieces of advice that are crucial for any employer supporting a care-experienced apprentice, as well as consulting employers we work closely with, including the BBC, to share best practice on how they support care-experienced young people in accessing

apprenticeships. Additionally, many care-experienced apprentices and those working in the sector have participated in supplementary focus groups and interviews to share their experiences.

Anna Morrison, Founder of Amazing Apprenticeships adds:

“The Moving On Up event at the BBC Headquarters marks a pivotal moment in our collective mission to support care-experienced young people. By bringing together voices from across government, employers, and – most importantly – young people themselves, we’re not just talking about change, we’re taking action. The launch of ‘The Apprenticeship Buddy’ and our new ‘Top Tips’ guide are practical steps forward, rooted in lived experience and expert insight. We’re proud to support the Moving On Up network in driving real progress for those who need it most.”