UK rapper Stefflon Don headlined the latest Apprentice Nation concert last week in her birth town of Birmingham. On Thursday 14 April front row views of the music and inspirational advice will reach even more young people across the country as it streams online.
Apprentice Nation is a careers platform putting apprenticeship on the front stage, produced by RockCorps and Multiverse with support from lead partner BT and Lucozade. Using the power of music, the platform provides young people, particularly those from historically underrepresented communities, to build skills for work and life, with on-demand access to the skills to shape their futures.
Featuring inspirational artist advice, their relatable content covers everything from perfecting your interviews to managing your mental health during your job search; the latest in the tech industry to understanding the tax code on your first pay slip.
Landing at the Mill in Digbeth, the Spring Gig was an exclusive, free experience for hundreds of young people in Birmingham to inspire their next career steps on the platform. Stefflon Don, M1llionz, and Mnelia joined the Apprentice Nation roster of alumni like AJ Tracey, Ghetts, Ray BLK, Raye, and Tinie.
Taking to the stage first was R&B’s rising star Mnelia, performing with a full band. As someone who had left university more than one time, and aspired to be a UN ambassador before her music career she had one passionate piece of advice for all attendees “If you love something, go for it. It will get done, I’m telling you that”
Next up, Birmingham local M1llionz performed the likes of Billionz and Y Pree, with fans singing along word for word. His advice? “There’s always a way out of whatever you’re doing.
Headline artist Stefflon Don brought all her confidence and energy to end the night on a high with performances of Move, Dip, Boasty, and Can’t Let You Go - with two young people even joining her on stage! What really captured the audiences attention though was her advice “take the time to perfect your craft, get confident with yourself, so that when you do step out you say ‘ I know I’m good’.”
And why Birmingham for this gig? The city has one of the highest rates of unemployment among young people - and we know that the right careers advice is vital for improving the outcomes of young people.
Symon Easton, Birmingham City’s Head of Culture said: “It’s fantastic to see initiatives like Apprentice Nation come to Birmingham. Celebrating and supporting young people through the power of music is just what we need to help improve outcomes for young people in the city.”
The advice doesn’t stop there. The premiere kicks off brand new on-demand videos, plus a six-week webinar series on the Skills Hub(opens new window), all featuring interviews with the artists that pull from their relatable experiences.
- Unlocking Potential - confidence, teamwork & negotiation skills
- Wellbeing & Awareness - disability inclusion, parenting - navigating life and work
- Skills For Life - money management, digital skills, social media
- Career Planning - job applications, interview skills, how to stand out from the crowd and more
- Make Your Mark - Social Impact: Cost of living, money management, government schemes
Using gamified learning, Apprentice Nation offers exclusive rewards like Samsung phones, Beats headphones, Amazon vouchers and hangouts with artists in return for watching this content.
Check out the full schedule and register for webinars on the Skills Hub(opens new window). Discover exciting apprenticeship roles in Birmingham and beyond on the Multiverse Platform(opens new window).
Team Multiverse