Business Partners with Broadcaster to Launch Youth Advocacy Project

A national apprenticeship and education events organisation has partnered with former award-winning BBC radio presenter Nikki Tapper MBE to launch a new project aimed at inspiring young professionals of the future.

The collaboration between The National Apprenticeship & Education Events and Tapper has resulted in the launch of the Future Focus podcast, which debuted this week. The series forms part of the organisation’s Inspire My Future program, a wider initiative designed to provide young people with access to digital resources, employer insights, and career guidance at a critical stage in their education and early career development.

Nikki Tapper is a familiar voice to audiences across the UK, having spent more than two decades on BBC local radio. During her broadcasting career, she fronted regional shows including Gospel Lounge, Chat Back, and, most recently, Sunday Night With Nikki Tapper. Alongside her work in radio, Tapper has developed a reputation as an events and awards host, trainer, and facilitator through her company, Nikki Tapper Ltd.

In recognition of her contributions to broadcasting and teaching, Tapper was awarded an MBE last year for Services to Broadcasting and the Community of the West Midlands. Her career spans more than 25 years in both media and education, highlighting her commitment to community engagement and professional development.

The National Apprenticeship & Education Events is based in Staffordshire and delivers some of the UK’s largest early-careers exhibitions. Since its launch in 2015, the organisation has focused on connecting young people aged 15 and above with universities, colleges, employers, and training providers across a range of apprenticeship and education pathways. Its exhibitions are designed to provide attendees with direct access to opportunities, guidance, and information on career options.

The launch of the Future Focus podcast is intended to extend the organisation’s support for young people beyond its exhibitions and events. As part of the Inspire My Future program, the podcast will offer listeners guidance and insights relevant to education and early career pathways, complementing the program’s existing digital resources and employer connections.

The Inspire My Future initiative was developed to address the challenges faced by young people when making decisions about their futures. By combining digital resources, expert guidance, and the perspectives of professionals, the program aims to provide a comprehensive support system for those exploring apprenticeships, higher education, and career opportunities. The addition of the podcast introduces an audio format for learning and engagement, allowing young people to access information in a flexible and accessible way.

Tapper’s involvement with the project brings a broadcasting and facilitation background to the podcast. Her experience in regional radio and events hosting provides the Future Focus series with a familiar and professional voice, while also highlighting a career path in media for listeners who may be interested in broadcasting or communications.

Since its inception, The National Apprenticeship & Education Events has become one of the UK’s most established early-careers exhibition providers. Its events attract large numbers of young people and connect them with a diverse range of educational and career pathways. By launching the Future Focus podcast, the organisation seeks to reach an even wider audience, providing insights and guidance to young people who may not be able to attend in-person events.

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to supporting young people during a formative stage in their education and professional development. By offering digital resources, career insights, and now an accessible podcast, The National Apprenticeship & Education Events and Nikki Tapper MBE aim to provide the inspiration, guidance, and tools necessary for young people to make informed decisions about their futures.

The Future Focus podcast is now available on major podcast platforms, forming part of the Inspire My Future program’s ongoing efforts to support young people across the UK. With this launch, the organisation continues to expand its range of initiatives designed to connect education, training, and career opportunities for the next generation.

Manager, Emma Ohara, said: “As our national events continued to grow, we recognised
there was demand for useful, accessible careers content available year-round – especially
from those who couldn’t always travel to our exhibitions. Inspire My Future was developed
to bridge that gap by offering resources in a way that complements our live events.
“The Future Focus podcast followed soon after. We wanted a platform that allowed deeper
conversations with employers, educators, and industry influencers about skills,
apprenticeships and the evolving world of work. Ultimately, we hope the podcast and digital
platform will help young people feel more confident, informed and inspired when making
decisions about their future.

“Nikki Tapper’s involvement has helped bring this to life, creating a space for short,
powerful interviews that offer real takeaways for young people, teachers, and parents
alike.” She added: “I first met Nikki at one of our events, where she was speaking directly with
young people about careers and opportunities at the BBC. Her natural rapport with students
and her ability to communicate career pathways in an engaging, down-to-earth way
immediately stood out. “From that first encounter, it was clear that her passion for helping young people navigate their futures aligned closely with our mission. Nikki’s background in broadcasting, community leadership and education advocacy made her an obvious partner.
“She brings warmth, authenticity and a natural ability to put people at ease. Her interview
style is conversational yet focused – drawing out insightful, practical advice without ever
making the conversation feel scripted. “She has a unique talent for making guests feel valued while also ensuring young listeners gain clear, actionable insight. Nikki understands the language of young people, parents and educators alike, and she brings genuine energy and curiosity to every conversation. She is exactly the kind of relatable, trusted voice we wanted for Future Focus.”

For Nikki, from Smethwick, the latest project also draws on her 26 years of teaching
experience, a challenging but empowering chapter of her life that culminated in a senior
leadership role at a local pupil referral unit. The podcast series represents an important continuation of her work as an advocate for young people. Interviews so far ‘in the can’ for the 15-minute podcasts include spokespeople from London Metropolitan Police, CS Connected and The Automobile Association (AA) – with new episodes being recorded regularly. She said: “As a teacher I was more interested in why certain children were coming into class
and struggling or falling asleep in the middle of the lessons. “I would find out that mum hadn’t come home because she’d been on the streets. As a teacher you had a significant role and power in these young people’s lives. It just made me more passionate about pastoral care, about their emotional needs rather than just giving this educational push all the time.

“I mainly worked with 14-16-year-olds who had dropped out of mainstream school because
they struggled with either being bullied or had undiagnosed learning needs. We would work
with them on a one-to-one or small group basis and build that trust with the teachers. And
thankfully, lots of those young people did choose to go to university or carry-on with their
career, but the starting point of that journey was having a teacher who would at least just
work with them and say, look, let’s just sit down and have a conversation.” Nikki added: “Being on Inspire My Future puts your organisation in front of young people at the very moment they are shaping aspirations. Through podcasts, they hear real voices, real stories, and real career journeys – building trust, relevance, and awareness early. “The government’s invested in apprenticeships. I want young people to think about that. Going to University is a costly affair and not everybody can afford to do that, working and earning and learning is great.” The first Future Focus podcast episodes are available to hear now across all major podcast platforms, including: Spotify, Apple, Google, Amazon Music and YouTube here.