Outer Circle

"Are remote-first companies setting up young employees to fail?" Steven Bartlett asked 100 CEOs this question—and their answers hit home. Especially for me. I started my apprenticeship at 17. No network, no real mentors, no idea how to navigate a professional environment. And to be honest, most days, I felt invisible. Not because I wasn’t working hard. But because I wasn’t seen. Remote meetings. Emails. Tasks sent. Tasks done. But no spontaneous chats. No mentors pulling me into a meeting. No one to really show me the ropes. The isolation was real. And for someone from a working-class background—no connections, no social safety net—work was supposed to be the ladder out. Instead, it felt like a maze. Steven’s post and the comments from leaders like Mark Bailie and Codie A. Sanchez say what a lot of people have been whispering: 💥 Young people don’t just need a job—they need immersion. They need proximity to leadership. They need to overhear how strategy is formed, how problems are solved. They need to feel like they belong in the room—not just on the Zoom. As someone who’s been through it, here’s my message to employers: 📍 Don’t assume flexibility is always better. 📍 Don’t forget that professional development starts with exposure. 📍 And don’t underestimate how powerful it is for a young person to feel part of something—especially when they’ve never been part of a workplace before. If you're hiring young people, give them more than a laptop and a login. Give them a chance to see, feel, and belong. Because the cost of not doing so isn’t just productivity— It’s potential, wasted. #Apprenticeships #EarlyCareers #RemoteWork #Leadership #Inclusion #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #GenZ #StevenBartlett

✨ Empowering the next generation—one city at a time. Last week, we brought OuterCircle to Manchester, and what an incredible day it was. 💥 We delivered an interactive mock assessment centre, giving young people and current apprentices the tools, confidence, and mindset to thrive in real recruitment settings—from high-pressure group tasks to personal interviews. 💡 But it wasn’t just about skills. It was about belief. Belief in yourself, your voice, and your future. 💬 Key themes that came to life: ✅ Owning your voice in group tasks ✅ Showing confidence and authenticity in interviews ✅ Engaging with leadership and decision-makers ✅ Understanding roles & pathways within organisations ✅ Learning what makes standout apprentices in today’s world Special thanks to the people who made this event not just possible—but meaningful: To our OuterCircle ambassadors—you are the heartbeat of this movement. The way you showed up to support, share, and lead is exactly why this community matters! To our Manchester Co-Lead, Cameron Woolley—thank you for driving this forward. Your leadership, dedication, and belief in this work were crucial in bringing OuterCircle to life in Manchester. To Elishia A. and Shade Obiti- your support, passion, and insights made a real impact. Thank you for being part of the journey! And to every young person who walked through those doors—you reminded us exactly why we do what we do. You are the future, and that future is bright. 🌟 🚀 This is only the beginning. More cities. More workshops. More futures unlocked. If you're a company ready to connect with early talent—or a young person ready to grow—we’re building this for you! #OuterCircle #Apprenticeships #Manchester #YouthEmpowerment #EarlyCareers #MockAssessment #ApprenticeshipExperience

I told 250 apprenticeship leaders: stop trying to get your apprentices to sell your programme… If you’re not giving them a reason to 🤷🏽♂️ A year ago, I sat in the audience at the Apprenticeship Branding Conference- 2 weeks out of being made redundant from my apprenticeship. This year, I stood on stage as a speaker. 🎤 But not to share a polished story. For the first time, I spoke openly about the reality: My own apprenticeship experience wasn’t great. I’ve seen the highs—but I’ve felt the lows too. And that’s exactly why I said what I said: If your apprentices aren’t naturally advocating for your programme, it’s not a marketing problem—it’s an experience problem. Here’s the truth: You can’t build loyalty, retention or advocacy after the fact. You have to build it into the experience from day one. → Right mentors → Real development → Support that reflects their background and needs When you get that right? Your apprentices won’t just promote your programme—they’ll believe in it. That’s what we focus on at Outer Circle —helping employers create & enhance apprenticeship programmes that don’t just start strong, but finish stronger. A massive thank you to Jagdeep Soor FRSA FIEP and the Pathway Group for the invite. It was powerful to speak alongside apprentices who are thriving—and to reflect on how far things have come in just a year. This was a full-circle moment—and only the beginning. Oh—and shoutout to Santina Bunting for telling me off for slacking on LinkedIn… So let’s call this Part 1 of me sharing more of my entrepreneurship journey—what I’ve been building since being made redundant. It hasn’t been easy. But it’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. #Apprenticeships #EmployerBranding #EarlyCareers #TalentStrategy #OuterCircle

📢✨ SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT! ✨📢 Romario Ellis, Founder of Outer Circle. Romario is the Founder of OuterCircle, a fast-growing community and consultancy dedicated to transforming the apprenticeship landscape. His journey began at 17 when he chose an apprenticeship over university, navigating a system that lacked clear support and guidance. While working in data science, he launched OuterCircle as a small community to help apprentices connect, develop skills, and access opportunities. After being made redundant, he took OuterCircle full-time, expanding it into a 5,000+ strong network that supports apprentices and helps SMEs build high-impact apprenticeship programs. Today, Romario works with Schools, Employers & Training Providers to drive better outcomes for apprenticeships. The Apprenticeship Branding Conference - Engage (powered by Pathway Group) is a dynamic leading industry event, in partnership with the Multicultural Apprenticeship & Skills Alliance and ThinkFest (Corporate Events & Networking), where we explore innovative strategies for apprenticeships, focused on building and empowering engaging brands that connect and elevate. Renowned expert leaders and professionals will attend and present on effective company and personal branding, recruitment, attraction, engagement and development techniques, collaboration and empowering organisations to attract and retain the best talent in the competitive world of apprenticeships. The event is aimed at senior leaders from the FE and HE sector as well as HR, Early Careers and Skills Development professionals from corporate organisations and SMEs. We will be marketing the event across our vast network of professionals from various sectors and industry disciplines. Our key aim is to promote apprenticeships, increase the number of apprenticeship opportunities and widen participation, destination and outcomes of apprenticeships. Engage your brand by attending the event, showcasing your commitment to promote and improve apprenticeships. Connect with influential sector leaders and key stakeholders, enhancing your visibility and reputation. https://lnkd.in/eNEYvudM Headline Sponsor: UCAS Supporting Sponsor: Youth Futures Foundation #EngageApps #Apprenticeships #Apprenticeship #Careers #ApprenticeshipBranding

🚀 Ace Your Assessment Centre: Key Tips & An Exciting Opportunity in Manchester! 🎯 For many of you, assessment centres are just around the corner—whether you're applying for apprenticeships, graduate schemes, or entry-level roles, this stage can often feel daunting. But don’t worry! With the right preparation, you can turn nerves into confidence and truly stand out. Here are three key things to keep in mind when preparing for an assessment centre: 🔹 Know the Company & Role Inside Out – Beyond just researching the company’s website, look into their values, recent projects, and industry trends. In group discussions and interviews, showing that you understand their goals can set you apart. 🔹 Showcase Teamwork, Not Just Leadership – Many candidates feel pressure to dominate group tasks, but assessment centres aren’t about being the loudest voice in the room. Instead, focus on collaboration—acknowledge others' ideas, build on them, and contribute meaningfully. 🔹 Stay Calm Under Pressure – The assessors aren’t just looking at your answers; they’re observing how you handle challenges. If something doesn’t go as planned, take a breath, refocus, and approach the task logically. Resilience and adaptability are just as important as getting things "right." 💡 Want to practice in a real-life setting? If you’re in Manchester, this is your chance! OuterCircle is hosting a Mock Assessment Centre Workshop where you’ll gain hands-on experience, receive feedback from experts, and sharpen your skills ahead of the real thing. 📅 Date: Monday, 31st March 2025 📍 Location: Barclays Manchester DiSH, Manchester (Heron House, 47 Lloyd St, Manchester M2 5LE) ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM ⏳ VERY Limited Spaces Available – Register Now! 🔗 Secure your spot now and get ahead of the competition! https://lnkd.in/e3YRspGZ Tag someone who needs to see this! Let’s make sure no one goes into their assessment centre unprepared. 💪 #AssessmentCentre #Apprenticeships #EarlyCareers #CareerSuccess

I Thought I Ruined My Future at 16. I walked into my first college class full of hope- Only to see my teacher playing Angry Birds on his phone 📱(pretty much set the tone of my College Experience 😂) 
No structure. No energy. No support. I went home that day feeling like I’d made the biggest mistake of my life. 
My friends were thriving back at our School’s Sixth Form , and I was stuck in a system that felt broken. I told my mum I wanted to go back. But that moment taught me something:
 It’s not what happens to you. It’s how you respond. So, I made a choice. 
If I was going to be there, I’d make the most of it. The goal was to become the best student that the college has ever seen🤩 I studied from 8 AM to 5 PM every day—but no matter how hard I worked, I kept hitting a ceiling. 
I wanted more and had no support around me to fulfil that. Then I found apprenticeships. No clue how to write a CV 🚫
No idea how to pass an interview🚫
Thousands of applicants for a handful of roles ❌ But I kept going. Somehow at 17, I landed a degree apprenticeship in Data Science—a dream opportunity. 
But even then, reality hit me:
➡️ No real support.
➡️ No sense of belonging.
➡️ A journey I had to figure out alone. And that’s when I faced another defining moment: 
Accept the situation, or change it. So, I built OuterCircle—first as a small WhatsApp group, now a nationwide community of Thousands of Aspiring & Current Apprentices helping each other navigate this journey. 
And today, it’s also a business supporting employers to create and improve apprenticeship programs that actually work. I never planned for any of this. 
But it all started with one decision: Don’t quit. And now, I get to share that journey on stage. On 3rd April, I’ll be speaking at the Apprenticeship Branding Conference – in Birmingham. 
I’ll be sitting on a panel alongside some amazing past & current apprentices, talking about how real stories can sell apprenticeships in a way job ads never could. And it doesn’t stop there… We at Outer Circle are teaming up with Pathway Group to promote an Apprentice Meet-Up after the event. If you’re an apprentice (or aspiring to be one), attend! 
📍 Apprentice Meet-Up
🕟 5 – 7PM
📌 Birmingham (Elizabeth Room) This is your space to connect, network, and build relationships with other apprentices and industry leaders. Let’s make apprenticeships louder, stronger, and impossible to ignore. 🔗 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e2ySP2-Q See you there? #Apprenticeships #Resilience #CareerGrowth #Education #OuterCircle #Branding #Networking

🚀 Exciting Opportunity: OuterCircle Mock-Assessment Centre (Manchester) – 31st March! 💼 Applying for an apprenticeship? Want to gain hands-on experience with real assessment centre tasks? This is your chance! 📅 Date: Monday, 31st March 2025 📍 Location: Barclays Manchester DiSH, Manchester (Heron House, 1 Lincoln Square, M2 5LN) ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM ⏳ VERY Limited Spaces Available – Register Now! 🔹 Why Attend? ✅ Real-Life Practice – Get familiar with assessment centre tasks used by top employers. ✅ Expert Feedback – Receive personalised guidance to refine your performance. ✅ Confidence Boost – Practice in a supportive, low-pressure environment before the real thing! ✅ Network with Other Apprenticeship Candidates – Meet like-minded individuals on the same journey. 🎯 Whether you’re applying for your first apprenticeship or just want to sharpen your skills, this session will set you up for success. 📢 Spots are filling up fast – Secure your place today! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e3YRspGZ Know someone applying for an apprenticeship? Tag them below and help them get a step ahead in the process! 👇 #OuterCircle #Apprenticeships #MockAssessmentCentre #EarlyCareers #ManchesterEvents #ApprenticeshipReady #FutureTalent

🚀 OuterCircle’s First Bristol Current Apprentice Event – Games Night! 🎲 Bristol apprentices, we’ve got something exciting for you! 🎉 Join us for OuterCircle’s first-ever Current Apprentice Games Night in Bristol – a chance to connect, unwind, and have some fun with fellow apprentices from across the region! 🗓 When? Thursday, 27th March 📍 Where? Chance & Counters, Bishopston, Bristol ⏰ Time? 6:00 - 8:00 PM 💰 Cost? Just £7.50 per person Whether you’re looking to meet other apprentices, share experiences, or just enjoy a great evening of games, this is the perfect chance to get involved. 🔗 Sign up now and secure your spot! https://lnkd.in/eizbsmYm Tag a fellow apprentice who should be there! Let’s build the Bristol apprentice network together. 💡 #ApprenticeLife #BristolApprentices #OuterCircleEvents

DEI is a Fad. There, I said it. Not because diversity, equity, and inclusion don’t matter- they do. But because, for many companies, it’s just been a trend. I had a conversation recently with someone who spent years working in-house on DEI initiatives. Their company won awards for diversity. Ticked all the boxes. Looked great on paper. But behind the scenes? ❌ Diverse apprentices dropped out within a year. ❌ Women faced workplace discrimination. ❌ The culture never actually changed. This is what happens when DEI is about optics, not action. The uncomfortable truth? As the hype dies down, many companies will quietly pull back their efforts. They’ll say, “We tried that before, and it didn’t work.” The real challenge isn’t recruitment: It’s retention. It’s support. It’s building real infrastructure that ensures people don’t just get in- but stay, grow, and succeed. If companies don’t start treating DEI as a business necessity instead of a marketing tool, we’ll see a return to the old ways. And when that happens, the excuse will be ready: "We gave it a shot. It just wasn’t worth it." 🚨 But let’s be clear: the problem isn’t DEI. The problem is how companies have been doing it. If you’re an employer: Stop hiring for diversity & failing them with no support. Stop winning DEI awards & ignoring toxic workplace culture. Stop making it a “trend” & start making it a priority. Otherwise, you’re proving my point: DEI isn’t dead. But the way you’re doing it is. 💬 What do you think? Have you seen companies that actually get DEI right? Or is it all just for show? Drop your thoughts in the comments. 👀 If you’re interested in more takes on apprenticeships, early careers, and the future of work—give me a follow. More to come! #DEI #WorkplaceCulture #Apprenticeships #DiversityMatters #Equity #Inclusion #Retention #FutureOfWork

We hosted TWO events in ONE evening! 🚀🎤 Last Thursday, We brought together Aspiring apprentices, Current apprentices, and Industry Professionals for two impactful events A Mock Assessment Centre in London and a STEM Apprenticeship Awareness Session in collaboration with In2scienceUK. 💼 Mock Assessment Centre – Hammersmith, London In-person, we ran a high-energy, real-world assessment centre simulation for over 30 aspiring apprentices—many of whom had never experienced one before. ✅ Team-based exercises ✅ Live presentations in front of assessors ✅ Feedback from recruiters & apprentices ✅ Networking with professionals from Accenture, Unilever, KPMG & more A huge shoutout to Martin Lin for leading the session, and to Hamdi Mousa (HR Advisor) for sharing invaluable recruiter insights on applications, assessment centres, and final-stage interviews. 🎙️ STEM Apprenticeship Awareness Session – Virtual At the same time, we teamed up with In2scienceUK to host an insight-packed STEM apprenticeship session for young people exploring alternative career routes. We covered: 🔬 What STEM apprenticeships actually involve 🎤 Live Q&A with current STEM apprentices 💡 Employer insights on standing out in applications 🌍 The growing opportunities in science, engineering & tech The feedback from both events has been incredible! Seeing apprenticeship awareness grow and candidates gain confidence in real-time is exactly why we do this. 👥 A huge thank you to everyone who attended, spoke, supported, and shared their insights—including: Kristiano Ellis, Harish Naguleswaran, Helen Brasier, Montasir Mohasin, Isabella Arenas, Thomas Packer, Yunus Riswan Marikkar & Maryam Hussain, Ciara Byrne, Danielle Knight, Sarah Hardman, Luca Peter DI GIOVANNI, Harsh S. & Thomas Harris! 📢 What’s Next? More mock assessment centres, employer-led workshops & exclusive apprenticeship insights coming soon! Stay tuned. 🌐 Join the Community! Current Apprentice Community: https://lnkd.in/dAZaRDya Aspiring Apprentice Community: https://lnkd.in/dAZaRDya #OuterCircle #Apprenticeships #EarlyCareers #STEM #FutureTalent #MockAssessment #SkillsForLife #Networking #ApprenticeshipReady 🚀