From Insight to Action: Understanding the Apprentice Experience

Romario Ellis is the Founder of OuterCircle. Lindsay Conroy is the Chief Execuive Officer of Association of Apprentices.

This interactive session combines national apprentice insight data with real lived experience from current apprentices.

The session will begin with AoA sharing key findings from the BIG Apprentice Survey 2026, highlighting themes around belonging, community, workplace support, line manager capability, mentoring, wellbeing and clear expectations.

Building on these findings, OuterCircle will facilitate a panel of current apprentices who will reflect on how these themes resonate with their own experiences. Panellists will discuss what has helped them succeed, where they have faced challenges, and what employers and training providers can do differently to improve apprentice experience, engagement and retention.

The session will conclude with audience discussion and practical actions that delegates can take back into their organisations.