SOCIAL IMPACT REPORT
Black Apprentice Network x Deloitte – Pathway to Professional Success
Full Report
This report documents the outcomes and impact of the Pathway to Professional Success programme, a collaborative initiative between the Black Apprentice Network and Deloitte.
The programme was designed to address inequalities in access to high-quality apprenticeships for black students, increase awareness of Deloitte's BrightStart Apprenticeship programme, and build application confidence, workplace readiness, and parental advocacy through a series of in-person events and webinars.
Single Page here
Overview here
BN
by Black Apprentice Network
Table of Contents
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Programme Overview
The Pathway to Professional Success was a high-impact summer engagement initiative delivered by the Black Apprentice Network in partnership with Deloitte. This national programme directly targeted long-standing inequalities in access to high-quality apprenticeships, particularly for black students and their families. It sought to increase awareness of Deloitte's BrightStart Apprenticeship Programme while building application confidence, workplace readiness, and parental advocacy.
Grounded in insights about systemic barriers, cultural perceptions, and the absence of relatable role models, the programme intentionally centred the lived experiences of black students and apprentices.
Each component was structured to align with specific goals including raising awareness of Deloitte's BrightStart apprenticeship opportunities, demystifying application processes, supporting families in understanding apprenticeships, and creating measurable pipeline interest into Deloitte's early career entry points.
National Scale
Multi-part webinar series reaching over 1,000 unique participants across the UK
Local Depth
In-person Insight Evenings held in London and Birmingham providing immersive experiences
Community Focus
Integrated apprentice panels, live Q&A sessions, and dedicated parent engagement
This was not just outreach — it was structural, identity-informed, and action-focused engagement designed to create meaningful pathways for back students into professional apprenticeships at Deloitte.
Impact: Key Programme Wins
1000+
Participants
Nationwide engagement across webinar series and in-person events
86%
Increased Understanding
Students reporting clearer understanding of apprenticeship pathways
92%
Representation Impact
Felt inspired seeing black professionals in leadership roles
78%
Pipeline Growth
Expressed intent to apply to Deloitte's BrightStart Programme
The programme significantly expanded awareness while creating tangible pathways into professional services. Students gained practical skills, confidence, and mentorship connections essential for successful applications.
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The Black Apprentice Network: Overview
Rubin Poku
Co-Founder and Chartered Management Degree Apprentice at Amazon
Driven to connect isolated apprentices through community building.
Elijah Olanipekun
Co-Founder and Former Consulting Degree Apprentice at Salesforce
Passionate about creating networks for underrepresented talent.
Kwesi Bimpong
Co-Founder and Software Engineering Degree Apprentice at Goldman Sachs
Dedicated to advocacy for apprentices across industries.
Community
Supported by 10+ industry ambassadors and 3 regional representatives.
Advocate
Championing diverse representation in apprenticeship programmes.
Connect
Building bridges between apprentices and leading employers like Deloitte.
Description
Black Apprentice Network help companies in Birmingham, Manchester, and London recruit top-tier, diverse apprentice talent by connecting them with our community of over 4,000 aspiring apprentices.
Through in-person events, webinars, a 5,000+ subscriber newsletter, and a social media audience of 20,000+ across LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, BAN spotlights their partners' opportunities and support their community in crafting standout apprenticeship applications through workshops, mentorship and content.
By combining exposure with tailored support, BAN helps drive meaningful, merit-based diversity within our partners' organizations.
BAN has supported leading employers like Deloitte, EY, BT, National Grid, Freshfields, KPMG and others in building more inclusive workforces.
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Primary Goals of the Engagement (1)
Raise Awareness of Deloitte's BrightStart Apprenticeship Programme
To introduce Black Heritage students and their families to BrightStart as a competitive, prestigious alternative to university, and clearly articulate its structure, benefits, and expectations.
Key Indicators:
Build Knowledge & Confidence
To prepare students with real, applied skills in navigating applications, interviews, and online assessments — and ensure parents also feel capable of supporting this process.
Key Indicators:
Foster Authentic Representation & Connection
To strengthen a sense of belonging by connecting students and families with relatable professionals, particularly Black Deloitte apprentices who reflect their backgrounds and journeys.
Key Indicators:
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Primary Goals of the Engagement (2)
Engage Families as Advocates
To build parental and carer understanding of apprenticeships, dismantle stereotypes, and empower families to be informed advocates for non-university career paths.
Key Indicators
Generate Long-Term Interest & Application Intent
To cultivate and track progression from event engagement to real consideration and eventual applications to Deloitte's BrightStart programme.
Key Indicators:
Ensure Inclusive, Measurable Participation
To prioritise outreach and impact in underserved communities and monitor demographic inclusion throughout the pipeline.
Key Indicators:
Provide a Holistic, Accessible Learning Experience
To deliver a high-quality learning journey that balances digital scale with localised relevance, and ensures content is empowering, digestible, and directly useful.
Key Indicators:
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Participation Snapshot: London Insight Evening
The London Insight Evening created a community-driven, high-energy space where students connected deeply with peers and professionals. Parents participated in parallel engagement tracks tailored to their decision-making role, creating a holistic family approach to career exploration.
Registration and Attendance
The London event demonstrated strong interest with over 270 registrants, of which approximately 170 attended, representing a conversion rate of about 63%.
Participants included a mix of students attending alone, students accompanied by parents, and parents attending independently to gather information.
Event Structure
The London Insight Evening featured a comprehensive programme including:
- Interactive workshops on application techniques
- Panels featuring current black apprentices at Deloitte
- Networking opportunities with professionals
- Dedicated sessions for parents on supporting alternative career pathways
The event's success was evident not just in attendance figures but in the quality of engagement, with participants actively participating in discussions, asking insightful questions, and forming connections that extended beyond the evening itself.
Year Group Representation (%)
Year group representation was predominantly Year 12 students (16-17 years old), with additional attendance from Year 13 and post-18 individuals, capturing students at critical decision-making stages in their educational journey.
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Participation Snapshot: Webinar Series
The virtual component of the programme achieved exceptional reach and engagement, demonstrating strong interest from the target communities.
The webinar series was designed to be highly accessible, delivered as three interlinked sessions across a single day, focusing on application readiness, professional skills, and career mapping — all led by both professionals and current apprentices.
1,600+
Total number of individuals who registered for the webinar series
1,000+
Unique attendees who engaged with the content
343
Average number of simultaneous attendees during the sessions
The webinar series attracted a diverse audience including students, parents/guardians, and teachers.
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Participation Snapshot: Birmingham Insight Evening
90+
Registrants
Total registrations for the Birmingham event
50+
Attendees
Participants who joined the Birmingham Insight Evening
While smaller in scale than the London event, the Birmingham Insight Evening delivered rich, impactful experiences for participants. The demographic included 80% Year 12 and Post-18 learners, with some Pre-16 representation (5%), indicating interest future school leaver programme applicants rather than current applicants.
This suggests successful outreach to the intended audience of young black students considering their career options.
Emotional Impact
Participants expressed strong emotional shifts during the Birmingham event, moving from uncertainty to enthusiasm and from curiosity to advocacy.
Many reported feeling inspired and empowered after hearing from black apprentices currently working at Deloitte.
Community Connection
The smaller scale allowed for more intimate interactions, with participants forming meaningful connections with Deloitte representatives and current apprentices, creating potential for ongoing mentorship relationships.
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LinkedIn Post Testimonials
"The apprentice panel opened my eyes to possibilities I never considered. I now see myself at Deloitte."
List of more LinkedIn Testimonials here
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Programme Testimonials
Testimonials - London Insight Evening
No. 1
"Overall I found the experience very informative and insightful…"
No. 2
"This was an incredibly insightful event, meeting new people and getting a taste of the corporate world."
No. 3
"'…the event has been really helpful as I was able to ask advice and learn more from other professionals…"
No.4
"I left feeling more motivated and informed about my future career in professional services…"
Testimonials - Webinar Series
No. 1
"I found it really good and it seemed like a lovely company to work at as well!
I had gone onto the website to check if they have any jobs open but they don't seem like they do"
I had gone onto the website to check if they have any jobs open but they don't seem like they do"
No. 2
"I like that the sessions were organised to address different parts of the application process because I could actually structure my notes well"
No. 3
"It was really insightful… it was nice to engage with others and see it from perspectives of those who have/ or are going down that path."
No. 4
"I loved it, it really helped a lot — especially with the STAR method and psychometric tests."
Testimonials - Birmingham Insight Evening
No. 1
"It was lovely, I had to add it to my LinkedIn – and I've been to many events, but the panel normally just repeat the basics. I liked how they actually were realistic and properly explained their journeys."
No. 2
"Obviously I heard about them, but my understanding of them went from like a 5 to a literal 10, especially because of the examples that were used to describe their work in a simpler way."
No. 3
I found that the event was very eye-opening and gave me a lot of insight for what to expect from apprenticeships.
No. 4
"It was nice hearing from younger people especially who get rejected at first, because me being me, originally I wouldn't have even applied again after 6 months."
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Impact: Awareness & Understanding
Before the Programme: Knowledge Gaps
One of the most significant achievements of the programme was the dramatic shift in awareness and understanding of apprenticeships among both students and parents.
52%
London Parents
Knew nothing about the BrightStart programme
60%
Webinar Parents
Were unaware of Deloitte's apprenticeship offerings
40%
Students
Had limited understanding of apprenticeships
Pre-programme surveys revealed substantial knowledge gaps, with 52% of London parents knowing nothing about Deloitte's BrightStart programme and 60% of webinar parents being unaware of Deloitte's apprenticeship offerings. Many students initially equated apprenticeships solely with trades or perceived them as low-status work options.
"I always thought university was the only respectable option. This has completely changed my view." — Parent, Webinar
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Impact: Awareness & Understanding
After the Programme: Knowledge Gaps
The percentages were out of 100% and this below chart was predicated on the number of people who felt confident to explain apprenticeship benefits to others
94%
Student Confidence
Students now able to explain apprenticeship benefits and their benefits to others.
97%
London Parents
Rated their understanding at 7/10 or higher after the programme ended.
100%
Webinar & Birmingham Parents
Achieved high-level understanding following online sessions.
This transformation in understanding represents a fundamental shift in narrative around apprenticeships within the black community.
By providing clear, accessible information and showcasing real examples of successful black apprentices, the programme effectively challenged preconceptions and opened new possibilities for participants. This awareness-building is a critical first step in creating more diverse talent pipelines into professional apprenticeships
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Impact: Confidence & Application Readiness
A central aim of the programme was to build practical confidence and application readiness among participants. The data shows remarkable progress in this area, with significant improvements in students' self-reported confidence across multiple dimensions of the application process.
Pre vs. Post Confidence Comparison
Students demonstrated dramatic improvements in confidence, with interview preparation confidence rising from just 3.5/10 on average pre-event to 8/10 on avergae post-event.
Familiarity with psychometric testing increased substantially, with initial familiarity being rated at 3.8/10 reduced to a confidence rating of 7.5/10.
Overall application confidence reached an average rating of from 4.2/10 to 8/10 following the programme.
Parents experienced equally transformative shifts in their ability to support their children:
- 80% of London parents now feel confident supporting their child through applications
- Birmingham parents gave perfect 10/10 ratings on questions relating to understanding and readiness
- Webinar parents rated their own confidence at an impressive 9.2/10
This shift from passive support to active coaching represents a critical element of the programme's theory of change. By empowering parents with knowledge and confidence, the initiative created a support system that extends beyond the formal programme itself.
Parents are now positioned as informed advocates who can guide their children through the application process, reinforcing the programme's messages and maintaining momentum toward application completion.
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Impact: Family Support & Advocacy
A distinctive feature of the Pathway to Professional Success programme was its intentional inclusion of parents and families as key stakeholders.
This approach recognised the crucial role that family support plays in career decision-making, particularly within black communities where parents' endorsement of non-university pathways may require specific information and reassurance.
The data demonstrates remarkable success in transforming parental perceptions and building family advocacy:
Webinar Parents
- 100% would recommend the programme to others
- 100% were more interested in their child applying to Deloitte post-event
- 67% said they now understood the next steps to take; 33% said "somewhat"
London Parents
- 96% would recommend the event
- 91% felt more confident supporting their child
- 73% requested further guidance — 47% asked for future events, 23% for one-on-one support
Birmingham Parents
- All gave perfect 10/10 scores on all survey questions
- Stated they would now actively promote Deloitte to others
"I hadn't considered Deloitte as a fit for us before. That's changed now." — Parent, Birmingham
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Impact: Family Support & Advocacy (2)
After programme questions:
This transformation of parental perspectives represents a significant achievement with long-term implications. By converting parents from potential barriers to active advocates, the programme has created a sustainable support system for students considering the apprenticeship pathway.
Parents are now positioned to encourage application completion, provide emotional support during the process, and champion apprenticeships within their wider communities.
The high demand for continued engagement (73% of London parents requesting further guidance) indicates an opportunity to build on this foundation through ongoing family-focused programming.
This demonstrates how family inclusion shifts long-term cultural perceptions and lays the groundwork for community-driven advocacy that can extend the programme's impact far beyond its immediate participants.
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Goal Attainment: Meeting Programme Objectives
BN
by Black Apprentice Network
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