Outer Circle

🌟 We’re Back! The OuterCircle End-of-Year Black Tie Gala Returns! 🌟 After last year's great success, we’re thrilled to announce that our much-anticipated Black Tie Gala is returning—bigger, better, and more inspiring than ever! 🎉 This year, we're opening the doors even wider, inviting not just current apprentices but also industry leaders looking to kickstart their journey. Why attend? ✨ Celebrate: Reflect on the amazing achievements of 2024. ✨ Network: Connect with apprentices, aspiring talent, industry leaders, and potential mentors. ✨ Be Inspired: Hear stories of growth, resilience, and success that will fuel your ambitions for 2025! ✨ Have Fun: Enjoy a night filled with Music & Dancing- get ready to Party! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable night as we toast to the future of apprenticeships and the limitless potential of tomorrow's talent. More details and RSVP info coming soon—stay tuned! 🥂 #OuterCircleGala #Apprenticeships #AspiringTalent #CelebrateConnectInspire

🎉 Happy New Year! (Serious question: when do we stop saying this? Maybe when we meet someone for the first time this year? 😅) This post is long overdue. I ended 2024 on a rough note with illness 🤒 and started 2025 juggling university and work powered by Redbull 🥤 and God’s grace 🙏! It wasn’t easy, but we made it through. 2024 taught me that knowing my why is my strongest compass 🧭, especially when navigating work, my degree, and advocacy. It wasn’t just about achievements but about turning challenges into growth 🌱 and realising impact comes from persistence, not perfection. Some highlights I’m grateful of that never made it to LinkedIn: ✅ Completed my tenure as a Youth Town Councillor and became an Ambassador at Aylesbury Town Council (Youth Town Council) (A separate post about my experience is coming soon). 💼 Joined Outer Circle as an Apprentice Ambassador (highly recommend applying if you’re an apprentice! - (https://lnkd.in/e7Kb6ys4) 🚀 Became a STEM Ambassadors, inspiring students to explore opportunities in STEM. 🔄 Made a significant career transition (more on this soon!). This year, I’m focused on: ✨ Deepening my technical skills. 🎙️ Amplifying overlooked voices in tech. 📢 Continuing to advocate for apprenticeships and showing that success is about the path you boldly create. We rise by lifting others 🤝, and that remains my daily ethos. Here’s to an impactful 2025! 🚀

✨ Reliving an Unforgettable Evening! ✨ Three weeks ago, the OuterCircle Black-Tie Gala brought together hundreds of inspiring individuals from across the UK—and now, the magic lives on in our official video recap! 🎥🌟 This event was a celebration of everything OuterCircle stands for: empowering young people, championing apprenticeships, and building a brighter future together. We couldn’t have done it without YOU—our incredible community, supporters, and partners. Your energy, passion, and belief inspire us to keep pushing forward. 📹 Check below to watch the recap and relive the magic of the evening. Let us know your favorite moment in the comments! 🚀 This is just the beginning. Together, we’re transforming the apprenticeship experience and creating opportunities for all. #OuterCircle #BlackTieGala #Apprenticeships #Community #Networking #Diversity #Celebration

New Year, New Opportunities: Become an Outer Circle Ambassador in 2025! 📣 Just two years ago, I was juggling everything on my own—building a community, hosting events, and promoting apprenticeships. Fast forward to now, and I’m beyond proud of what we have created. The Outer Circle Ambassador Program has become the beating heart of our community. In just three months, over 70 ambassadors have joined us, representing cities across the UK—from Bristol to Birmingham, London to Manchester, and even Scotland. Together, we’ve: ✨ Hosted 10+ Workshops and Social events 🌐 Reached Thousands of aspiring apprentices through webinars 🎩 Organised a Black Tie Gala with hundreds in attendance But this is just the beginning. We’re reopening applications for our Ambassador Program as we prepare for an even bigger 2025. This is your chance to: 🎟️ Plan and host events that make an impact 📱 Create social media campaigns that inspire 🎓 Mentor aspiring apprentices 🎤 Build public speaking and leadership skills 🤝 Connect with a fast-growing, 3,000-strong community Whether you’re an aspiring apprentice looking to grow or a current apprentice wanting to make a difference, this program is designed to help you level up personally and professionally. In just three months, you’ll gain: ✅ Hands-on experience in leadership and coordination ✅ Transferable skills that will set you apart in your career ✅ A referral for your CV or future interviews ✅ Access to a tight knit team of like-minded and ambitious peers I started OuterCircle with the belief that no apprentice should navigate their journey alone. Now, we’re empowering others to lead the charge. Ready to join us? 🔗 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/evwAHGHa If this sounds like someone in your network, feel free to share this post! Let’s continue building a community that transforms the apprenticeship experience. #Apprenticeships #Leadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #OuterCircle #AmbassadorProgram #GrowthMindset

Am I the odd one out? … or am I just a 19-year-old trying to navigate the corporate world? Being a degree apprentice is an incredible opportunity, but I’d be lying if I said it isn’t daunting at times. It’s easy to feel out of place when you’re in a team of experienced professionals who have been engineers longer than I’ve been alive. But recently I attended the Outer Circle Gala organised by Romario Ellis and my perspective changed. I met so many people my age, navigating the same challenges, all feeling the same sense of “being the odd one out.” We exchanged stories, laughed about shared awkwardness, and realised something profound: If we all feel this way, how can any of us truly be the odd ones out? This event reminded me of the importance of community. By supporting each other, sharing experiences, and learning together, we create an environment where no one feels out of place. To anyone out there feeling like the “odd one out”: you’re not alone. Let’s connect, share experiences, and grow together. #degreeapprentice #degreeapprenticeship #impostersyndrome #networking #gala #community #support #apprenticelife #corporate #careergrowth

✨ What an unforgettable evening! ✨ Nearly two weeks ago, we hosted the OuterCircle Black-Tie Gala, bringing together 100's of our community members from across the UK. 🌟 This event wasn’t just about the glitz and glamour—it was about connection, celebration, and creating opportunities. A night that truly showcased the power of community and collaboration. Some highlights of the evening: 💼 Networking: Industry professionals, apprentices, and future apprentices came together to exchange ideas and build relationships. 🎤 Inspiring Talks: Speakers shared their journeys, proving that resilience and determination can open doors to success. 💃 Celebration: A chance for everyone to celebrate their hard work, achievements, and shared vision for the future of apprenticeships. To everyone who attended, supported, and contributed to making this event such a success- thank you! 🙏 Your energy, passion, and belief in the OuterCircle mission inspire us every day. We’re already looking forward to the next one and the incredible opportunities 2025 will bring. Together, we’ll continue to create a brighter future for apprenticeships and the communities we serve. Stay tuned for what’s next—this is just the beginning! 🚀 #OuterCircle #BlackTieGala #Apprenticeships #Community #Networking #Diversity #Celebration

2025 may be the year of you finding your people!🔬 2024 was the year of amazing growth for Apprentice led organisations, filling the community void that was there! I have been so luckily to get involved in various apprentice events, so it was great to finish off the event by attending the Outer Circle Apprentice black tie gala! 🕶️🤵♀️ Apprentices from across the Uk, a hearty roast and busting moves on the dance floor! I had the best time and as always it was so nice to meet some new faces. Thank you to Romario Ellis,Tia Melika El-Ahmadi and the other amazing ambassadors for their hard work organising the event! 🎉🎉 So if your an apprentice whose goal is to get out there and network more, than my advice is: ✨look on LinkedIn (Outer Circle, The Black Apprentice Network (BAN) 👀 ✨look within your industry specifically e.g many institutes have early career groups 🔨 ✨look within your local area e.g colmore business district early career network 🏡 So I can’t wait to see see a lot more events heading into 2025 being organised by individuals, companies and apprentice organisations a like! #apprentice #arup #2025goals #networking

2024 Was the Hardest Year of My Life. I was going to write a polished, positive reflection post. But if I’m being honest, I just want to be real with you all. This past year tested me in ways I never imagined: * ❌ I was let go from my dream apprenticeship. * ❌ I had to let go of friendships and relationships I thought were solid. * ❌ I ran Outer Circle—a network of 2,000+ members at the time—completely on my own, burning out in the process. Truthfully, it was the loneliest I’ve ever felt. I felt detached from society, from being young, and from the world around me.
 Even though I was "locked in" and focused, I often questioned: 
“Is it worth it?”
“Am I even passionate about this anymore?”
“Should I keep going?” But here’s the thing: today’s weakness is tomorrow’s strength. Every challenge, every moment of doubt, built something within me- resilience, clarity, and a deeper understanding of who I am and what I want to create. Despite it all, I’m proud of what I accomplished in 2024: 🚀 Took OuterCircle full-time, transforming it into a growing business. 🎤 Spoke at panels, conferences, and even on the radio, championing apprenticeships with top employers. 📈 Built OuterCircle into a National network of over 3,000 Aspiring & Current Apprentices 🏫 Visited 100+ schools and inspired 7,000+ students to see the power of apprenticeships. 🌟 Grew the OuterCircle Ambassador team by 70+ apprentices, amplifying our impact nationwide. And just last week, we pulled off the Black-Tie Gala 2024, where hundreds of apprentices from across the UK came together to celebrate and connect 🌐🕺🏾 (📽️ Check out the recap video here 👇🏽): 
https://lnkd.in/e2ReYUah Looking ahead to 2025:
 Our mission at OuterCircle is clear—to make more apprenticeships accessible, consistent, and impactful by: 🤝 Partnering with employers to create opportunities for young people. 🌍 Expanding our community to support even more students and apprentices. 🔗 Bridging gaps between apprentices, employers, and education systems. I can’t wait to reveal everything I’ve been working on behind the scenes these past 6 months: Exciting collaborations, new team members, advisory board launches, and game-changing initiatives set to redefine apprenticeships🤩 Stay tuned! 2024 was the year of change.
 2025 is the year of impact, growth, and innovation. 💬 Let’s Connect:
 If you’re passionate about apprenticeships, looking to support this movement, or curious about Outer Circle, reach out to me! Whether it’s joining as an ambassador, partnering with us, or sharing ideas—let’s work together. Drop your thoughts in the comments or send me a message. Let’s make this the year we build something extraordinary! 🚀✨ #OuterCircle #Apprenticeships #Growth #Resilience #Community #2025Goals #MakingAnImpact

 OuterCircle Black Tie Gala: Last Chance to Join Us! We hope you're all excited about the OuterCircle Black-Tie Gala tomorrow, the response has been incredible! We're down to our last 10 ticket! The clock is ticking, and this is your final opportunity to be part of the event! You can still grab your spot at this exclusive celebration before it’s too late.  Date: Friday, 27th December 2024  Venue: Holiday Inn Riverside Suite, Brentford  Time: 8:00 PM – 1 AM  Dress Code: Black Tie What’s in Store? - Live Entertainment: Enjoy music that’ll keep the energy high all night. - Games & Prizes: Bring your A-game for a chance to win amazing surprises! - Unmissable Networking: Connect with apprentices, professionals, and leaders shaping the future. - Year-End Celebration: Celebrate 2024 in style with a vibrant, inspiring crowd. Stunning Venue: Soak in the magical riverside vibes for an unforgettable evening. Act Now: Secure your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/e7-JNZ6r Don’t let this once-a-year opportunity slip away. Spaces are vanishing fast, and we’d hate for you to miss out on the celebration of the season. Let’s close the year with fun, connection, and celebration. We’re counting down the hours to celebrate with you! #OuterCircleGala #BlackTieEvent #CelebrateSuccess #ApprenticeshipStars #FutureLeaders #EndOfYearCelebration

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from OuterCircle! ✨🎄 As we wrap up an incredible year, we want to take a moment to thank every student, apprentice, school, employer, and supporter who has been part of the OuterCircle journey in 2024. Together, we’ve achieved so much—from hosting impactful events to expanding opportunities and creating a thriving community of apprentices across the UK. This festive season, we celebrate: 🌟 The amazing young talent who inspire us every day. 🤝 The partnerships with businesses and schools that help us bridge the gap between education and employment. 🎓 The milestones reached by apprentices and the opportunities created for those to come. Looking ahead to 2025, we’re excited to continue empowering apprentices, building meaningful connections, and shaping the future of work. To all of you, thank you for your support, passion, and dedication to making a difference. From everyone at OuterCircle, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with growth, opportunity, and success. Here’s to the journey ahead—together, we’re unstoppable! 🎉 #MerryChristmas #OuterCircle #Apprenticeships #Community #Celebration #FutureReady