In this newsletter, you will find:

Topic of the month
AoA Development Sessions
NTAR Feedback
International Men’s Day
Safeguarding

NTAR Careers Lunch & Learns

Since September, NTAR has been hosting monthly Lunch & Learn sessions designed to help develop essential skills needed for success in both current roles and future careers. These sessions align with the Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs) of the apprenticeship standards, allowing them to be counted towards Off The Job training. So far, the following sessions have been delivered: Introduction to LinkedIn, Public Speaking 101, and Apprentice Networking. Recordings and materials from previous sessions have been shared via email.

Starting back in January, we will continue these monthly and will also be open to suggestions of topics you would like to see. Keep an eye out for invitations in the future. We look forward to seeing you there!

International Men’s Day

‘Positive Male Role Models’

Every November, International Men’s Day is celebrated with the mission to:

Make a positive impact on the wellbeing and lives of men
Raise awareness and funds for charities that support mental and physical health
Encourage open, constructive conversations about men, manhood, and masculinity

This year’s theme, Positive Male Role Models, highlights the importance of men who inspire, lead, and make a difference in their communities.

To find out more about the initiatives, events, and ways you can get involved, click the link: https://ukmensday.org.uk/

Development Masterclass

‘Discovering you - the journey to self-awareness’

On Friday 13th December, the AoA are delivering a virtual masterclass on self awareness. “Learn why playing to your strengths is more important than improving your weaknesses and create an action plan for how you can use these strengths more frequently.”

Click the link to register for free:

h t t p s : / / a s s o c i a t i o n o f a p p r e n t i c e s . o r g . u k / e v e n t s /

Topic of the Month:

Social media at a crossroads

Under the ownership of Elon Musk, X (formerly twitter) has undergone several controversial changes, creating concerns over the safety and integrity of the platform. Critics argue that X’s algorithm increasingly promotes harmful content, such as hate speech and misinformation, while restricting access to important information. This has raised alarms on the platform's role in shaping public discourse and its potential to fuel division and spread misinformation.

In response, many users are migrating to Bluesky, a decentralised alternative offering more control and transparency. With Bluesky’s focus on privacy and user-driven feeds, it’s has seen huge growth in recent weeks for those seeking an alternative online experience.

As these issues escalate, it’s becoming increasingly important to assess the platforms we use and their impact on how we receive information.

NTAR Apprentice Newsletter