Following the success of its first year, Rinova, in partnership with Inspire-ebp, was appointed by the Greater London Authority (GLA) to deliver the Early Connect London Pilot programme for a second year. Commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE), Early Connect was initially a one-year pilot designed to support current Year 13 students across London schools successfully transition into apprenticeships. The programme was then commissioned for a second year, running until December 2025.
The national pilot aimed to increase the number of Year 13 students securing apprenticeships and was delivered across three regions: London, the Northeast and Lancashire, each tailored to reflect local needs and opportunities.
In its first year, the Early Connect London Pilot attracted strong interest from students across London schools, providing one-to-one sessions for over 200 young people. These sessions offered tailored guidance on apprenticeship options and practical advice to support their next steps. Building on this experience, the second year adopted a more flexible model combining light-touch engagement with intensive support depending on individual needs, enabling the programme to support 514 students in total.
Each student was paired with an Apprenticeship Advisor, who provided continuous, personalised support throughout the programme. Advisors met students in one-to-one sessions, offering guidance on applications, refining CVs, and explaining the opportunities and requirements within their chosen sectors. They helped students develop tailored action plans, prepared them for interviews, and answered sector-specific questions, ensuring students had the knowledge and confidence to progress in their apprenticeship journey.
Student Voice: Faiza, Year 13:
“Being part of the Early Connect programme this past year has been a real highlight for me, especially the mock interviews I attended, which gave me a clearer sense of what it’s like to step into GSK and the skills I’ll need to develop further. It’s been an amazing experience, and I’ve learned so much. I’m a little worried about losing touch with the Early Connect community and Hub, so if I could be kept in the loop, that would be really helpful!”
Early Connect aimed to make apprenticeships more accessible and engaging. Students had the opportunity to participate in workshops where they met employers, explored career pathways, reviewed their CVs, and took part in mock interviews and assessment centre simulations. These sessions offered practical experience, valuable insights, and the confidence to take the next step, while weekly updates with apprenticeship opportunities, industry events, and sector highlights kept students informed and motivated throughout the process.
The programme revealed that navigating apprenticeships can often be more complex than applying to university. In the first year, many students needed help understanding apprenticeship levels and how the process worked. By the second year, we found that students were more informed and approached advisors with specific goals in mind.
One of the key findings of Early Connect was a clear mismatch between the apprenticeships most actively promoted and the levels that Year 13 pupils were seeking. Many students were focused on higher-level and degree-level apprenticeships, while the majority of available opportunities were at Level 3. This highlighted the importance of educating young people about the benefits of starting at lower levels, gaining valuable workplace experience, earning qualifications, and progressing step by step toward higher-level roles.
Student Voice: Aisha, Year 13:
“Thanks for explaining all of this! I really appreciate the guidance on data science and cybersecurity – this information is so helpful! ”
The programme also underscored the importance of resilience and open-mindedness. As degree-level apprenticeships are highly competitive, students learned that successful journeys often begin at Level 3, where persistence, research, and preparation are key. Early Connect encouraged participants to explore different pathways, strengthen their employability skills, and stay proactive even when faced with challenges.
Thanks to the dedication of the Early Connect team and strong collaboration with employers, the programme has made a lasting impact. Students completed the programme with greater confidence, a clearer understanding of their options, and the tools to take their first steps into meaningful careers. The combination of personalised guidance, practical workshops, and direct employer engagement ensured that young people were equipped and inspired to succeed in their apprenticeship journeys.
Student Voice: Jasmeen, Year 13:
“I have been accepted into an adult mental health support worker apprenticeship, starting on 1st August. Thank you so much for your support and advice, I really appreciate it!”