June Newsletter 2025

Blue Lion Training Academy – Looking Ahead to the New Academic Year

As we approach the 1st August and the beginning of a new academic year, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the exciting milestones many of you are reaching. Whether you’re preparing for Gateway or getting ready to tackle your End Point Assessment (EPA) “which will be called Apprenticeship Assessments after the first of August”, this is a pivotal time in your apprenticeship journey.

At Blue Lion Training Academy, we’ve been reflecting, refining, and reimagining how we support apprentices like you. By listening closely to your experiences, challenges, and successes, we’ve been shaping new ways of working that put both learner and employer experience at the heart of apprenticeship delivery.

We’re proud to announce that from 1st August, we will be officially launching our refreshed programmes – aligned with Skills England – designed to accelerate your journey without compromising on quality. These new programmes are built to empower you to complete your apprenticeship, some of which will be in just 8 months, with your EPA (Apprenticeship Assessment) scheduled for the 9th month. It’s a bold, focused model designed with purpose and precision.

But bridging the skills gap is only the tip of the iceberg.

What lies beneath – and what we’re deeply committed to – is supporting every layer of your apprenticeship ecosystem. From helping line managers understand what it means to sponsor a Lean Six Sigma improvement project, to preparing apprentices in AV and events to present confidently to audiences of 1,000+ people – we are committed to helping every learner and every business succeed together.

This year is not just about getting to the finish line – it’s about raising the bar for what’s possible during the journey.

Thank you for being part of the Blue Lion community. Let’s make 2025 our strongest year yet. 🦁

From Apprentice to Expert: Learner Testimonials

Listen to what some of our learners say about completing their apprenticeships this year:-

Rosie Hastelow

Level 3 Digital Marketer

Megan Jackson

Level 3 Content Creator

Lauren Banks

Level 4 Associate Project Manager

Joseph Webster

Level 4 Associate Project Manager

New Employers who have joined the Blue Lion Training Academy!

Employer Feedback

Listen to what our employers have to say:

Introducing new members to the Blue Lion Training Academy Team…

Emma Sparrow

Operations Manager

Hi, I’m Emma – I recently joined as Operations Manager bringing over a decade of experience in developing and leading training programs that support both individual growth and business performance.

Most of my career has been in the power and construction sectors, where I developed a strong foundation in workforce development. This experience inspired me to complete a Level 5 CIPD in Learning and Development, and deepened my commitment to supporting apprentices and creating meaningful career pathways.

I’m passionate about helping learners succeed, and I bring a hands-on, collaborative approach to everything I do. I’m particularly focused on building strong relationships with stakeholders and continuously improving how we deliver training and development.

Outside of work, I’m kept busy by my two football-mad boys—weekends are usually spent pitch-side or playing taxi! I also enjoy walking my dog and getting to the gym when I can.

Peter Grantham

Compliance & Governance Manager

Hi, I’m Pete, I’ve recently joined Blue Lion Training Academy as the Compliance and Governance Manager, bringing over two decades of experience in training, education, and hospitality leadership. I’ve worked cross-sector with many major employers including DWP, BUPA, Marston’s, Hilton, and Gordon Ramsay, leading large-scale apprenticeship programmes, creating award-winning training academies, and delivering national quality and curriculum improvements. My background includes years in senior hospitality operations, opening and turning around venues, and building high-performing teams for brands like De Vere and Greene King—real-world experience that grounds my work in training and compliance. I’m particularly passionate about supporting neurodiversity and inclusive education—creating environments where all learners can thrive, contribute, and feel valued. I’ve championed inclusive practices across curriculum design and delivery, ensuring our programmes are accessible, flexible, and focused on individual strengths. Outside of work, I spend most weekends being taken on adventures to rock and metal gigs by my music-obsessed daughter (after our obligatory parkrun), and watching my cricket-mad son play in whichever Yorkshire field he finds himself. Although you’d never tell by looking, I’ve completed several odd marathons involving, among other things, mountains, whisky valleys, and horses. I’m delighted to be part of the Blue Lion team and can’t wait to help shape what comes next.

Becci‘s Swim For Alzheimer’s Research Uk

Well done to our Tutor Becci on completing the “Swim the Distance” challenge in April & raising over £200 for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Swimming 10k is a great achievement!

Whether we are experiencing signs of dementia ourselves or know someone who is living with dementia, it can be an overwhelming experience as there are so many unanswered questions & no cure at present.

Did you know that:
– almost 1 million people in the UK have dementia.
– in the UK there are more women with dementia than men.
– people over 75 are much more likely to get dementia, but it can affect younger people too.

AV Upskilling for Career Changers

Turning a Frustration into a Future

Have you ever sat in a corporate meeting room, ready to present, only to be let down by the AV setup? The screen won’t connect. The sound is patchy. The video link crashes. A 10-minute delay turns into a 30-minute problem – and the solution? Booking a pricey external conference space.

You’re not alone – and that’s exactly where the Level 5 Audio Visual (AV) Technician Apprenticeship steps in.

We recently spoke with one of our newest apprentices who had spent over 10 years working in a corporate support role. Despite not having a technical title, they were often the go-to person for sorting out projectors, connecting laptops, or calling the IT team when AV failed. Over time, they began to see the pattern: internal AV systems were underused not because they weren’t good, but because no one had the expertise to run them properly.

Their decision to retrain as a Level 5 AV Technician wasn’t just about fixing equipment – it was about transforming how their company used its space, saving thousands in external room bookings, and reducing the carbon footprint of travel and outsourced events.

This apprenticeship goes beyond basic troubleshooting. It develops core knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) needed to:

Design and configure complex AV systems
Support hybrid meetings, live streams, and broadcast-quality audio
Collaborate with presenters, speakers, and external AV teams
Carry out diagnostics and apply proactive maintenance
Manage AV infrastructure projects with clear documentation and stakeholder support

With a strong focus on professional standards, learners finish this apprenticeship ready to lead AV strategy, not just support it. And with most businesses now embracing hybrid working and digital communication, the demand for in-house AV expertise is only growing.

For employers, the benefits are clear: upskilling a current team member through this apprenticeship means improved internal capability, reduced external costs, and AV that just works when it’s needed.

Ready to make the switch or grow your AV potential?
Let’s turn everyday frustrations into future opportunities.
Get in touch to learn how our Level 5 AV Apprenticeship can help.

Blue Lion Training Academy – Lighting the path for career changers and modern businesses alike.

🦁 Evolving Our Delivery Model: A Smarter Apprenticeship Journey at Blue Lion

As we step into the new academic year from 1st August, Blue Lion Training Academy is proud to unveil a refreshed delivery model for all apprenticeship programmes – streamlined, structured, and powered by the platforms that matter: Bud and SharePoint.

Why the change? Because we’re not just keeping pace with Skills England reforms – we’re staying ahead.

📚 What’s Changing?

Our updated delivery model is built to support the 8-month programme structure, with learners reaching EPA readiness by month 9. To do this successfully, we’re making it clearer than ever where learning lives, how progress is tracked, and what success looks like at every stage.

Here’s how it works:

💻 Bud – Your Apprenticeship Command Centre

Everything related to tracking, tasks, and portfolio evidence lives inside Bud:

Monthly learning objectives
Assignment deadlines and submission points
Tripartite review tracking
KSB progress visibility (for learners, tutors, and employers)

🗂️ SharePoint – Your Learning Resource Vault

We’ve built out SharePoint as the central home for all assignment briefs, templates, toolkits, and supporting resources:

Slide decks and briefings
Evidence log templates (e.g. 61-slide EPA structure)
Teach-back and shadowing guides
Example submissions and best practice

🧭 A Fully Guided Journey

Each apprenticeship now follows a clearly mapped timeline:

Tutor-led live sessions to introduce each module
Teach-back and shadowing activities to reinforce learning
Regular coaching check-ins
Tripartite reviews every 12 weeks to support planning and momentum
Portfolio building aligned to EPA expectations from day one

🚀 Why It Matters

This is more than just a system upgrade – it’s a commitment to helping every apprentice and employer succeed with clarity, confidence, and consistency. Whether you’re coaching a Lean Six Sigma project or preparing for a high-profile AV event, you’ll know exactly what’s expected and when.

Skills England has set the framework – Blue Lion is building the path.

Get ready for a smarter, sharper, and more supported apprenticeship journey in 2025

WELFARE NEWS

Growing through Grief

Grief is a loss that comes to us in many forms. Loss of a loved one, pet, job, change, health, relationship, connection and even loss of identity. Grief can be a bit like waves crashing on a shore. Some days, it’s just a gentle ripple. Other days, it’s a wave so strong it knocks us over. It comes and goes, unexpectedly, sometimes calm, sometimes overwhelming. You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to ride them. Grief doesn’t disappear—it stays with us. But we grow around it. Over time, we adapt, finding new ways to live with it. It doesn’t define us, but it shapes us, like the way the ocean reshapes the shoreline.

A few Tips for Supporting Someone Who is Grieving a Loss

Be Present, Not Perfect: Sometimes just sitting quietly together is enough. You don’t have to have all the answers.
Offer Practical Help: Grieving people may struggle with daily tasks. Offer to help with small things, taking care of a small errand.
Give Space for Emotions: Don’t rush them to ‘move on.’ Let them grieve in their own time and way. Some days will be harder than others.
Don’t Compare Grief: Every person’s grief is unique. Don’t say “I know how you feel,” because you can’t. Instead, say “I’m here for you.”
Offer Ongoing Support: Grieving doesn’t stop after the initial loss. Keep offering support beyond the first few weeks, whether through calls, visits, or even a simple text.
Be Patient with Their Healing Process: Healing takes time. There’s no fixed timeline for grief, so be patient as they navigate it.

The best thing you can do is offer a steady presence and compassion. Grief can be an isolating experience, but you can help lessen that isolation just by being there.

Our safeguarding team tutors and staff at Blue Lion training academy are here to support all our learners and community please visit our safeguarding page to learn more about the support available to you Welfare/Safeguarding – Blue Lion Training Academy | Apprenticeships & Commercial Training Courses. You can also contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead geeta.dhanjal@bluelionta.com

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