The opening speech presentation given by Safaraz Ali (Saf) at the National Apprenticeship Event & Conference sponsored by the West Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network held at the ICC in Birmingham on the 27th March 2018. Speaking about the changes , challenges and future opportunities. With a positive message for those leaving school and looking to enter the world of work “A message to the young people here - this day could be the start of your future career. It could be the day that changes everything for you. It’s a day that can provide you clarity, it can help you make better decisions and hopefully provide a clearer mental image of what you would like to do. And where you would like to go. “ “Our lives are determined by the decisions we make and the opportunities we grasp and take”

1. NATIONAL
APPRENTICESHIP EVENT
SAFARAZ ALI: OPENING SPEECH
27TH MARCH 2018

2. GOOD MORNING ALL

3. It’s my absolute honour and privilege to firstly welcome you all
to the National Apprenticeship Event & Conference sponsored
by the West Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network
and held here at the ICC in the heart of the Midlands and what
we ourselves like to refer to as the heart of the country and
that is our lovely City of Birmingham.

4. I know some of you may have travelled to get here and as an
ordinary citizen of Birmingham I feel empowered to welcome
you to this great city.
It’s an absolute honour for me to stand in front of my peers
from the apprenticeship sector as well as the education sector
as a whole. We are privileged to have with us, some fantastic
employers/businesses who are the lifeblood of the economy
and keep the country ticking along. And of course the young
people which is the reason why we’re all here today.

5. Apprenticeships have changed, And they are rapidly evolving
even further. It may seem wherever you go, there is a buzz
around apprenticeships and everyone is talking about
Apprenticeships, Apprenticeships, Apprenticeships.

6. Long gone are the days when Apprenticeships were just about
trades and craft and where apprenticeships were for people
who are not academic. These days an apprenticeship can take
you anywhere and the impact they have on people’s lives is
immeasurable.
The powers that be, recognise that for the success of business
and therefore the economy as a whole, we need to draw upon
a skilled and motivated workforce and therefore
apprenticeships are key; but there’s just not enough of them.
There are not enough young people who are applying for
apprenticeships for the right reasons i.e. a real career choice.

7. The opportunities are there, and they are increasing year on
year. There is a universal commitment in the UK for providing
opportunities for all and in this respect a number of
Government targets have been put in place which includes 3
million apprentices by 2020 and also the targeting of specific
backgrounds to ensure all fully embrace and take on this
opportunity.
For the economy to thrive we need to have the right mix of
Schools, Colleges and Universities as well as vocational skills
including of course apprenticeships. This diversity is crucial to
making the system work and for our economy to work for all.

8. When I’m taking to young people about Apprenticeships, one of the
biggest obstacles I find, isn’t what you would traditionally think is
an obstacle, that is a lack of careers advice or information. But in
fact pressure from families and friends effectively their support
network. And this is mainly down to bias and judgmental thinking
and therefore the more we talk about apprenticeships and have
role models, the better it is for everyone.
Nobody should be deterred for applying to university and at the
same time nobody should be deterred from taking the
apprenticeship route. It does not matter where you come from but
who you become.

9. There is some prejudice against vocational qualifications, I’m not
saying anything new here but shining the light to help what needs
to be put right which will ensure that as many people who wish to
go down the apprenticeship route, do so.
Fortunately, or unfortunately Governments come and go, it’s for
businesses to step up and show leadership to work in partnership
with others and deliver going forward.

10. Most businesses that that I know prescribe, to the viewpoint:
Great businesses make great apprenticeships and Great
Apprentices make Great Businesses.
It is extremely satisfying to see employers around the country
are benefiting from apprenticeships and this is why they are
here for more. To the employers here, you have been placed
firmly at the driving seat, leading the way setting your own
expectations and programmes and having more power to drive
up quality and deliver the outcomes that you require.

11. There are many of us here that know apprenticeships deliver,
and how we can all benefit from them and this is one of the
reasons why we can all advocate for apprenticeships.
A message to the young people here - this day could be the
start of your future career. It could be the day that changes
everything for you. It’s a day that can provide you clarity, it can
help you make better decisions and hopefully provide a clearer
mental image of what you would like to do. And where you
would like to go.

12. You could go away from here with knowledge, information and
feeling inspired.
It could help you discount the things that you do not wish to
do, this will in turn help you work toward what you want to do.
This is why; today is about you, and helping you in that journey
in becoming the best version of You.

13. Our lives are determined by the decisions we make and the
opportunities we grasp and take. We all have ready access to
information these days and we could do that to be fair enough
by sitting at home. To make today worthwhile, and to set you
on your journey, I believe you are going to get the most value if
you focus on conversation and the right conversations.
Everything in life starts with a with a conversation somehow.
Please go out and have those conversations with those
exhibiting.

14. From experience, I can say to you that exhibitions generally
don’t work unless you do.
• If you engage,
• If you ask the right questions,
• If you’re there in the moment #
Then you may even surprise yourself on what can be achieved
if you are open to the opportunity.

15. If you’re the sort of person that doesn’t normally ask questions
let today be different. If you’re usually fearful remember fear is
one of the biggest killers of opportunity. Overcome your fear
and just seize it - just go for it.
Remember the people at this exhibition my colleagues from
the industry and employers are here because they Want to
make a difference. They want to help, help you Make Better
Decisions for yourself to help you gain that clarity, and at the
end of the day to help you with Your career choices.

16. Nobody here is a salesman, as such, but are here because they
are passionate, and they Care.
Today could change your life. It could change everything.
Make today awesome and I wish you all the best!

17. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND ENJOY YOUR DAY.