Nicola O’Neill has joined Realise as business and development advisor. Her role is to help UK-based companies benefit from an events apprenticeship scheme and employing an event apprentice.

O’Neill’s passion is developing strong teams and great guest experiences. Before joining Realise, she successfully ran nightclubs and events in various settings.

Describing the opportunity to work with Realise, O’Neill said: “Often, companies don’t know how to tap into the UK Government funding that pays 95 – 100 per cent of the training cost for an events apprentice. I will help them.”

The Events Apprenticeship scheme helps companies invest in new talent, upskill junior staff, even offer a new career path to their employees. Apprentices contribute immediately to their employers while gaining valuable experience from event industry experts.

Realise is a provider of the events apprenticeship programme. It is an 18-month “learn while you earn” development programme that results in an event assistant certification equal to two A levels – with relevant on-the-job experience.