Award-Winning Broadcaster Nikki Tapper Launches Podcast Empire to Disrupt Careers Advice for Gen Z

Nikki Tapper MBE, award-winning broadcaster and founder of Nikki Tapper Ltd, recording Future Focus — her podcast empowering the next generation of skilled professionals.

Bridging Education Gaps With Year-Round Digital Reach

Nikki Tapper MBE partners with National Apprenticeship & Education Events to host Future Focus podcast, delivering concise employer interviews via Inspire My Future platform to guide young people toward apprenticeships over costly university routes.

A  national apprenticeship and conference business has teamed up with a former award-winning BBC radio presenter for their latest project aimed at inspiring young professionals of the future. The National Apprenticeship & Education Events is partnering with Nikki Tapper MBE, for the new Future Focus podcast, launched this week.

The series forms part of the organisation’s Inspire My Future program, developed to offer everything from digital resources to employer insights and guidance at a critical time.

A familiar voice on BBC local radio for more than two decades, Nikki has fronted a host of regional shows, including Gospel Lounge, Chat Back and, more recently, Sunday Night With Nikki Tapper. She is now continuing to make a name for herself as an established events and awards host, trainer and facilitator through her company Nikki Tapper Ltd.

Last year she received an MBE for Services to Broadcasting and the Community of the West Midlands, recognising more than a quarter of a century working in both the broadcasting and teaching fields.

The National Apprenticeship & Education Events, based in Staffordshire, delivers some of the UK’s largest and most established early‑careers exhibitions. Launched in 2015, the organisation was created to connect young people aged 15 and above with employers, universities, colleges, and training providers across a range of apprenticeship and education pathways.

Highlights

• Partnership launch: Future Focus podcast debuts as part of Inspire My Future digital program.
• Nikki’s credentials: 20+ years BBC radio, 26 years teaching, MBE for broadcasting and community service (2025).
• Focus on accessibility: Year-round careers content for those unable to attend live events.
• Advocacy angle: Promotes apprenticeships as affordable, earn-while-you-learn alternative to university.
• Interview style: Short 15-minute episodes with employers (e.g., Metropolitan Police, CS Connected, AA).
• Personal motivation: Rooted in pastoral care for vulnerable youth during teaching career.
• Business impact: Helps employers reach talent early, building trust through real stories.

Manager, Emma Ohara, said: “As our national events continued to grow, we recognised there was demand for useful, accessible careers content available year‑round – especially from those who couldn’t always travel to our exhibitions. Inspire My Future was developed to bridge that gap by offering resources in a way that complements our live events.

“The Future Focus podcast followed soon after. We wanted a platform that allowed deeper conversations with employers, educators, and industry influencers about skills, apprenticeships and the evolving world of work. Ultimately, we hope the podcast and digital platform will help young people feel more confident, informed and inspired when making decisions about their future.

“Nikki Tapper’s involvement has helped bring this to life, creating a space for short, powerful interviews that offer real takeaways for young people, teachers, and parents alike.”

She added: “I first met Nikki at one of our events, where she was speaking directly with young people about careers and opportunities at the BBC. Her natural rapport with students and her ability to communicate career pathways in an engaging, down‑to‑earth way immediately stood out.

“From that first encounter, it was clear that her passion for helping young people navigate their futures aligned closely with our mission. Nikki’s background in broadcasting, community leadership and education advocacy made her an obvious partner.

“She brings warmth, authenticity and a natural ability to put people at ease. Her interview style is conversational yet focused – drawing out insightful, practical advice without ever making the conversation feel scripted.

“She has a unique talent for making guests feel valued while also ensuring young listeners gain clear, actionable insight. Nikki understands the language of young people, parents and educators alike, and she brings genuine energy and curiosity to every conversation. She is exactly the kind of relatable, trusted voice we wanted for Future Focus.”

For Nikki, from Smethwick, the latest project also draws on her 26 years of teaching experience, a challenging but empowering chapter of her life that culminated in a senior leadership role at a local pupil referral unit.

The podcast series represents an important continuation of her work as an advocate for young people. Interviews so far ‘in the can’ for the 15-minute podcasts include spokespeople from London Metropolitan Police, CS Connected and The Automobile Association (AA) – with new episodes being recorded regularly.

She said: “As a teacher I was more interested in why certain children were coming into class and struggling or falling asleep in the middle of the lessons.

“I would find out that mum hadn’t come home because she’d been on the streets. As a teacher you had a significant role and power in these young people’s lives. It just made me more passionate about pastoral care, about their emotional needs rather than just giving this educational push all the time.

“I mainly worked with 14-16-year-olds who had dropped out of mainstream school because they struggled with either being bullied or had undiagnosed learning needs. We would work with them on a one-to-one or small group basis and build that trust with the teachers. And thankfully, lots of those young people did choose to go to university or carry-on with their career, but the starting point of that journey was having a teacher who would at least just work with them and say, look, let’s just sit down and have a conversation.”

Nikki added: “Being on Inspire My Future puts your organisation in front of young people at the very moment they are shaping aspirations. Through podcasts, they hear real voices, real stories, and real career journeys – building trust, relevance, and awareness early.

“The government’s invested in apprenticeships. I want young people to think about that. Going to University is a costly affair and not everybody can afford to do that, working and earning and learning is great.”

The first Future Focus podcast episodes are available to hear now across all major podcast platforms, including: Spotify, Apple, Google, Amazon Music and YouTube via: https://inspiremyfuture.co.uk/