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Apprentis

About Apprentis

Building the infrastructure behind apprenticeship success.

Apprentis is a system designed to help young people not just access opportunities but be fully prepared to succeed in them.

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10,000+

Young people reached

3,000+

Directly supported

300+

Placements confirmed

79%

At degree level

Our Purpose

Driving our work every day to create lasting change.

What drives us

Mission

To build the infrastructure that prepares young people to successfully access and secure apprenticeships, combining guidance, systems, and data-driven support at every stage of the journey.

Where we're headed

Vision

A world where every young person has equal access to apprenticeship opportunities, where the path from education to meaningful employment is clear, and where apprenticeships are recognised as a first-choice career pathway.

Our Core Belief

We focus on what most platforms miss: readiness.

Because opportunity without readiness leads to wasted potential.

How We Think

The LEO Framework

Most platforms focus on access. We focus on what comes after: whether a young person is genuinely prepared to succeed once they get in the room.

L
L

Learn

The capability stage

Building the skills, knowledge, and professional behaviours that turn a new starter into a credible contributor.

E
E

Earn

The value stage

Moving from participant to contributor. Demonstrating capability and building a track record.

O
O

Own

The identity stage

Taking authorship of your own career. Developing a professional voice and building networks intentionally.

Every piece of research we publish, every programme we run, and every tool we build is mapped back to one of these stages.

Meet the Founders

Real apprentices who understand the journey, building the platform they wished existed.

Iyioluwa Adesan

Iyioluwa Adesan

Founder

Passionate apprenticeship advocate and degree apprentice graduate. Completed Digital and Technology Solutions Professional degree at NatWest Group and BPP University.

Credentials & Recognition

Digital and Technology Solutions Professional

Degree Apprentice Graduate at NatWest Group and BPP University, completing a Bachelor's degree in Digital and Technology Solutions.

NatWest Digital & Innovation Apprentice

Selected as one of 10 individuals for NatWest's first Digital & Innovation apprenticeship programme, with an intensive boot camp supported by LTSB, Google, Salesforce, and West Ham United.

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BPP Community Commendation Award

Awarded for outstanding contribution to physical and online communities as an apprenticeship advocate, showing others that apprenticeships are a viable option.

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BCS - Bridging the Digital Divide

Featured in BCS article on IT apprentices helping bridge the digital divide.

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BPP Apprentice Influencer

Recognised as an influential voice in the apprenticeship community.

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Inspiring the Future Champion Volunteer

Active volunteer inspiring young people about career opportunities.

LTSB X NatWest Collaboration

Worked with LTSB to expand apprenticeship opportunities across finance.

Bolu Olawaye

Bolu Olawaye

Co-Founder

Award-winning degree apprentice graduate bringing firsthand experience and industry recognition to Apprentis.

Credentials & Recognition

Digital and Technology Solutions Professional

Degree Apprentice Graduate at Howden Group and University of East London, completing a Bachelor's degree in Digital and Technology Solutions.

UK IT Industry Awards 2024 Winner

Recognised at the prestigious UK IT Industry Awards 2024 for outstanding contributions to the tech industry.

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Digital Apprentice of the Year 2024

Named Digital Apprentice of the Year at Computing's Digital Technology Leaders Awards.

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UEL Recognition

Recognised by University of East London for outstanding achievements in digital apprenticeships.

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Howden Group Apprentice

Apprentice at Howden Group, bringing real industry experience to the platform.

Recognition

Diversity Champion at the Black Tech Achievement Awards 2026

Recognising the work being done to fix a critical gap in early careers: readiness.

This was built with zero public funding, no blueprint, and no precedent. Just a clear understanding of what was broken, and the discipline to build what was missing.

Iyioluwa Adesan receiving the Diversity Champion award
BTA Awards ceremony
BTA Awards podium
ICAD Oxford 2025
Global Platform

Presented at the University of Oxford

Apprentis was showcased at ICAD 2025 alongside leaders from the UK, US, Singapore, Switzerland, and Australia.

We demonstrated how apprenticeship systems can be redesigned using data to become measurable, scalable workforce engines.

Join Our Mission

Whether you are an aspiring apprentice, employer, school, or training provider, there is a place for you in the Apprentis community.