Join this NLA and University of the Built Environment breakfast talk to gain practical tools and guidance to help you determine whether Built Environment apprenticeships are right for your business. 

NLA and the University of the Built Environment will hold the first event in our new partnership—focused on moving beyond thought leadership and into practical action, strengthening the bridge between industry and education to tackle the sector’s most pressing skills challenges.

 

This NLA Breakfast session will promote the strategic value of apprenticeships for employers across the built environment. As a specialist apprenticeship provider with strong industry reach and a flexible online learning model, we’ll offer practical tools and guidance to help organisations determine whether apprenticeships are the right fit—and how to maximise their impact. 

 

We’ll explore current government priorities and the wider economic purpose of apprenticeships—including how this solution, among others, can be effectively harnessed to address the sector’s talent crisis. You’ll hear from organisations that are making meaningful progress by designing effective roles, unlocking funding, and embedding apprenticeships into long‑term workforce planning. 

 

With industry and education at the same table, this session offers a clear and hopeful view of what’s possible. Together, we can move from recognising the skills gap to closing it—and build a stronger, more sustainable talent pipeline. 

Nick McKeogh, Co‑Founder and Chief Executive, NLA
 
 

09:05   Introducing University of the Built Environment 

09:20   Sector Insights 

Nick McKeogh, Co‑Founder and Chief Executive, NLA 

Professor Ashley Wheaton, Vice Chancellor, University of the Built Environment 

 

Mike Speight, Strategic Enterprise, University of the Built Environment 

 

09:45  Industry Panel: From Intention to Action 

Mike Speight, Strategic Enterprise, University of the Built Environment 

Featuring Mark Farmer, Founder Cast Consultancy, author of the "Modernise or Die" report, Chair, Built Environment Futures Assembly (BEFA), and others TBC
 

A focused discussion featuring university apprenticeship employers, alumni and strategic partners who are successfully designing apprenticeship roles, maximising funding mechanisms, and embedding apprenticeships into their workforce strategies. 

Nick McKeogh, Co‑Founder and Chief Executive, NLA 

Professor Ashley Wheaton, Vice Chancellor, University of the Built Environment 

 

10:30    ‘Talk to an Expert’ Networking 

 

Connect with a network of experts brought together by the University of the Built Environment for deeper conversation, guidance, and real‑world examples on: 

 

·       How the System Works 

·       Funding & Finance 

·       Designing Roles & Progression Pathways 

·       Diversity, Inclusion & Mentoring for Apprentices 

·       Future Skills