Apprenticeship
Ambassador
Network
North East
Created to serve the people and businesses of the North East, promoting, championing and creating apprenticeship opportunities.
#JustTakeOne
A million opportunities begin with a single apprentice…
NEAAN is proud to launch “Just Take One”, a regional effort highlighting the benefits apprenticeships have for SMEs and urging businesses.
National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards 2026
Celebrating Excellence in Skills
NEAAN is once again proud to be supporting the Department for Work and Pensions’ National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards.
The event shines a spotlight on the remarkable talent, dedication and ambition from the very best from across the skills sector.
The North East Awards take place in September at the Hilton, Gateshead and it would be amazing to see our Ambassadors and partners among the winners.
The awards celebrate apprentices and T Level students building their futures, the skills champions supporting them, and the employers whose commitment is transforming lives, businesses and communities across the country.
Find out more and how to apply at apprenticeshipandskillsawards.co.uk
Thinking of becoming an Apprentice or Employer Ambassador?
Read through our prospectus to find out how you can join the network.
As well as being part of a powerful national movement, Ambassadors also become regional influencers providing expertise and insight on apprenticeships.
Introducing the North East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network
A National
Network
The Apprenticeship Ambassador Network is a national collection of businesses and organisations whose aim is to spearhead the drive to engage new employers to commit to apprenticeship delivery across country.
Find your
Apprenticeship
Did you know there’s a dedicated website that’s all about apprenticeships?
Just key in the apprenticeship or job you’d like to do, the area you’d love to work and the “Find an Apprenticeship” will do the rest.
Many NEAAN partners use this website to attract new recruits and there is always a wealth of quality apprenticeships to apply for.
Think it’s not for you? Anyone can apply as the criteria is incredibly broad. You can start an apprenticeship if you’re:
- 16 or over
- Not in education (full or part-time)
You can have a previous qualification, like a degree, and still start an apprenticeship.
Want to know more?
Visit: gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
Why sign up
As an Ambassador
North East Apprentice Ambassadors Chair, Jessica Duff, outlines the role of NEAAN, her own ambitions and why YOU should sign up to the Ambassador Network…
Mesma
Mesma is an award-winning business providing bespoke software and advisory support that is shaping the future of quality improvement in further education and employment services.
Harnessing technology, Mesma clients can tap into decades of sector experience to supercharge quality improvement across all areas, with clarity and confidence. The Mesma software platform enhances quality practices and is delivered with resources, guides, and AI features.
As a North East Apprenticeships Ambassador, Mesma is a businesses that recognises importance of supporting all age apprenticeships. Meeting the needs of people at different life stages to fulfil ambitions, is a key focus for founders Carole Loader and Lou Doyle, who wanted to create a business that employs apprentices directly from school or college and throughout their career, supporting people to retrain and achieve their professional goals.
Intelect
A hugely-successful North East SME, Intelect provides engineering services to some of the leading operators in the food processing, utilities, renewables and pharmaceuticals sectors.
Founded in 1997, it recruits and develops highly-skilled and knowledgeable professionals, helping it become one of the largest independent engineering contractors in the North East.
With bases in Teesside, Humberside and Leicestershire, Intelect is committed to the apprenticeship agenda and here marketing manager, Lily Brothwood, talks about the benefits of working with apprentices…
Meet our region’s top former apprentices
As named by the North East England Chamber of Commerce.
Jeanette Henderson, Financial Director
Gus Robinson Developments Ltd
“An apprenticeship provides real life experiences and allows you to acquire skills not found in a classroom. A good apprenticeship can be the starting block to progressing through the ranks – the sky is the limit. From an employer’s perspective apprenticeships are a great investment, resulting in home grown talent and provide a succession-planning solution.”
Become an
Apprenticeship
Ambassador
Employers, trainers, managers, director, apprentices, former apprentices... if you have a passion for apprenticeships, you could be an Apprentice Ambassador.
Apprenticeship reforms in recent years have encouraged many new and exciting businesses and sectors to be more actively involved in apprenticeships. We want our NEAAN to reflect this dynamic.
If you are interested in joining as an Employer Ambassador please email hello@neaan.org.uk
For more information visit:
gov.uk/government/groups/apprenticeship-ambassador-network
If you are interested in joining as an Apprentice Ambassador please email yaan.support@education.gov.uk. If you have any questions about the role but have not yet decided if you would like to sign up, please email: hello@neaan.org.uk and we can answer any questions you may have.
For more information visit:
Case Studies
Oluwadamilare Akinola – Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) – Customer Service Specialist Level 3
I am Oluwadamilare Akinola, and I work for the Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) as a Customer Service professional.
Alex Robson – Nexus – Transport Planning Level 6
I work for Nexus doing transport planning and have done since September 2024, so about 17 months.
Intelect UK: Powering the North East’s Engineering Expertise Through Apprenticeships
A hugely-successful North East SME, Intelect provides engineering services to some of the leading operators in the food processing, utilities, renewables and pharmaceuticals sectors.
NEAAN
Partners
