Message from Katharine

Lovely to see so many of you at the EPN meeting on Wednesday. Thank you as always to our guest speakers! Many opportunities were presented for members, which I encourage you to grab with both hands and reach out to our guests from the meeting to get more involved with. The slides from the event will be available next week on the members’ pages of the website. A couple of reminders post-event:

1. Please let me know if you deliver or could deliver Conflict Resolution Training, preferably funded but not essential, as I would like to connect you into an opportunity supporting Essex Sports Club Volunteers
2. Mark Emerson invited providers to contact him directly with ideas and initiatives for potential funding and partnership opportunities through their Clean Energy TEC: mark.emerson@colchester.ac.uk

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy this penultimate EPN Voices Newsletter before they pause during summer break.
Kx

Exhibit at the Basildon Skills Show 2026
Basildon Council is pleased to announce that stall holder bookings are now open for this year’s Basildon Skills Show, the annual large scale careers event.

In 2025 the Skills Show had over 2,000 attendees.

For 2026 we are significantly increasing the capacity for exhibitor numbers at the event.

This year’s Basildon Skills Show takes place on Wednesday 7^th October 2026, 9am-5pm, at Basildon Sporting Village, SS14 3GR.

This showcase is an opportunity for employers and training providers to inspire local young people, and then recruit new talent, all on the same day:

• 9am-2:15pm – students from local secondary schools are bussed to the Skills Show to spark inspiration toward their future careers
• 3pm-5pm – the Skills Show opens to the public as an all-ages careers fair, the biggest in the region, with attendees ranging from college students considering their next steps to adult jobseekers looking for work or to upskill

We ask that exhibitors make your stall interactive to inspire young people on to their future direction.

A digital flyer with more information for potential exhibitors can be accessed HERE.

To make this event sustainable, there is a modest £50 exhibitor fee for stalls, plus Eventbrite’s small booking charge.

Book your stall for the Basildon Skills Show 2026 here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/basildon-skills-show-2026-exhibitor-tickets-1990951554695

EGA Weekly News Bulletin
Last week’s bulletin highlights a range of opportunities across agri-tech and rural innovation, space and geospatial technologies, quantum and deep tech, creative industries, business growth, health innovation, transport and advanced manufacturing. View the bulletin HERE.

Universal Credit Financial Support

Ministers are exploring extra financial support for low-income families affected by benefit rules when a young person begins an apprenticeship. Under current regulations, some households claiming Universal Credit can lose significant payments. The proposed targeted bursary would help prevent families from being financially disadvantaged when choosing an apprenticeship. Please read more here.

Keeping Children Safe Guidance

The statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance for schools and colleges has been updated. The revised guidance strengthens safeguarding culture through greater accountability, improved information sharing and closer multi-agency working. It also highlights risks such as online harms, misogyny, serious violence and artificial intelligence, while promoting early intervention and family support. To view the guidance, please click here.

ECP Safeguarding Guidance – KCSIE

Find out more about the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance in ECP Safeguarding’s free 25 minute webinar on either the 16th July at 2pm or 11th August at 12pm, register here. You can also access an audiobook version of Part 1 & Annex A here, along with a staff factsheet here.

The College Experience

As part of Youth Employment Week, Youth Voice Sense has launched The College Experience report. The research explores students’ experiences of college and sixth form, including attendance, careers education, work experience and access to opportunities. The findings reinforce the importance of high-quality careers support, employer engagement and meaningful work experience opportunities. Please click here to access the report.

Verifying Apprenticeship Behaviours

Skills England has released new guidance to help employers verify apprentices’ workplace behaviours required by occupational standards. The process encourages recording naturally occurring examples rather than collecting extensive evidence. Officials say the approach is simple, proportionate and designed to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens. To read more, please click here.

Funding Rules Updates

The Department for Education has published the second webinar in its series covering 2026/27 funding rule updates. The webinar outlines changes that will take effect from 1 August 2026, reviews updates included in the draft rules published in April and explains amendments made following sector feedback. Please click here to watch.

What do you need for NAW 2027?

Amazing Apprenticeships is developing new resources to support organisations during National Apprenticeship Week 2027. As part of the expansion of its Apprenticeship Arcade, it is looking for ideas for new game topics and additional gaming platforms. Share your suggestions by emailing:
hello@amazingapprenticeships.com

Results Day 

A range of Results Day resources is now available to support young people exploring their next steps. Resources include a short film on apprenticeship pathways, rapid-read guides and information covering both post-16 and post-18 options. These materials are ideal for sharing with students ahead of Results Day. Please click here to explore and share.