Stroud District Council's apprentice Lucy Hanman has become the first Young Apprentice Ambassador for the Stroud district.

Lucy began working for Stroud District Council in 2018 as a housing management apprentice in Tenant Services. Earlier this year, she joined the Young Apprentice Ambassador Network (YAAN) to help promote apprenticeships across the district.

Stroud District Council currently has 19 apprentices on its books.

The YAAN is a community of current and former apprentices who work in various industries across the UK. These ambassadors visit schools and colleges within their local area to share their story and inform young people on the benefits of an apprenticeship.

Lucy said: "I joined the YAAN because I wanted to give something back to the community, having started my career as an apprentice.

"I gained many skills from my apprenticeship that I wouldn't have acquired from a traditional academic route, which have now become an essential part of my job role. I want to continue to make young people more aware of apprenticeships and the advantage of gaining work experience whilst receiving a recognised qualification."

Lucy's involvement in the YAAN has led to her becoming the vice chair Young Apprentice Ambassador for Gloucestershire. In this role, Lucy visits schools and colleges and helps employers to recruitment apprentices.

Kathy O'Leary, Stroud District Council's "I am very proud of Lucy's progression within the council and her dedication to increasing awareness of apprenticeships. The YAAN is a great organisation which provides young people with the information they need to make an informed decision on how to continue their education.

"At Stroud District Council we are pleased to be able to support young people taking the first step into their career through our apprenticeship programme."