EVENT MANAGEMENT APPRENTICESHIPS PROGRAMME ANNOUNCES FIRST BOARD OF DIRECTORS

London – 25 February 2019 – In the run-up to National Apprenticeship Week, The Event Management Apprenticeships Programme (EMAP), today announced the formation of its first Board, committed to driving the development and professional delivery of the programme in order to broaden the talent pool for recruitment into the fast-growing events industry.

The board is chaired by Sarah Wright, Director, WRIGHT, and members are

• Radhika Chhatwal, Head of Operational Efficiency, Citywire
• Sasha Frieze, Managing Director, The Business Narrative
• Simon Hughes, Vice Chair, Business Visits and Events Partnership
• Justine Kane, Director, The Event Academy
• Asi Panditharatna, Director of Employment Services, The Forward Trust
• Adam Proto, Event Producer, Terbell Ltd
• David Wise, Managing Director, Wise Productions

The Board’s key objectives are to:

• Drive recruitment of apprentices to broaden the industry talent pool
• Develop the higher Trailblazer standards with industry employers to maximise the uptake of apprenticeships in the industry
• Drive governance, quality assurance and a successful communication programme
• Ensure that apprenticeships outcomes meet the event and live communications industry’s agreed apprenticeship standards.

The new Board brings a breadth of skills from across the industry from a variety of disciplines – agencies, events management, training, recruitment, education, apprenticeship development and communication.

Sarah Wright, Chair of the UK Events Industry Board Talent Taskforce and Chair and Employer Engagement Director of the EMAP Board said: ” I would like to thank Mark Riches, Founder and NED at FIRST for his huge contribution in helping the programme get this far, and I very much look forward to taking over as Chair of this fantastic Board to build on the success to date. There are now several training providers in place and approximately 80 apprentices in apprenticeships positions which is a huge achievement, and the first three apprentices graduated last week, including Lucy Bennet, at Avenue Events.”

Lucy comments: “I have really enjoyed the apprenticeship program and will be sad not to see everyone for our workshops. I really appreciate all the hard work you have put in to helping me get through everything. I can’t wait to continue my career in events.”

Claire Richardson, Quality Director at Professional Assessments Ltd (PAL), who undertook the assessment, adds “As the first End Point Assessment organisation to get approval for the Event Assistant Standard we have been working with the training provider Realise and the EMAP team to establish the necessary rigour to the programme. It is really rewarding to see apprentices complete the programme with great results and the first 3 we have assessed are the first in the country to complete this apprenticeship.”

The Event Management Apprenticeships Programme Board will be at Confex at Olympia, London on 26^th and 27^th February – why not visit stand L18 (opposite the Exhibition News Pavilion) and find out more?  National Apprenticeship Week 2019 is 4 – 9 March.