Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week: Launching Our Early Careers ‘NextGen4um’ Forum
To mark National Apprenticeship Week, we’re proud to share the launch of NextGen4um – our new Early Careers forum designed to bring together apprentices and early career professionals from across 4way. The aim is simple: create a supportive space to connect, share experiences, and grow together.
Our first in-person session set the tone for what we hope this forum will become. We began the day with short updates from each apprentice, reflecting on their journey so far, what they’ve been learning at college, the projects they’ve been involved in, and what lies ahead.
A recurring theme quickly emerged. The most challenging areas of study were often those with limited overlap to our day-to-day technical work. This sparked an open and honest discussion about how the forum can act as a peer support network. With everyone at different stages of their apprenticeship, there is always someone who has faced a similar challenge and can offer practical advice. That collaborative spirit sits at the heart of NextGen4um.
We then moved into a session focused on End Point Assessment (EPA), a milestone that can understandably feel daunting. With one attendee awaiting their assessment date and another having recently passed, the group benefited from first-hand insights and practical reassurance. Hearing real experiences helped make the process feel clearer and more manageable.
After a productive morning, we headed out of lunch together; a valuable opportunity for colleagues from different offices to connect informally and strengthen relationships beyond the meeting room.
The afternoon included a session with one of our registered STEM Ambassadors, who spoke about the importance and reward of inspiring young people to explore engineering and technology. The discussion highlighted the diversity of careers within our sector and encouraged apprentices to consider how they might get involved in outreach themselves.
We rounded off the day with a practical STEM challenge, building balloon-powered cars using simple materials. The results were varied and occasionally unpredictable, but the exercise delivered exactly what it was intended to: teamwork, creativity, and plenty of positive energy.
The first NextGen4um session was a genuine success. Attendees left with stronger connections, new insights, and a clearer sense of how the forum can support them throughout their apprenticeship and early career journey at 4way.
National Apprenticeship Week is about recognising the value apprentices bring to our industry. Through initiatives like NextGen4um, we’re investing in their growth, confidence, and future, and we’re excited to see where the forum goes next.