SOCIAL housing associations across the North East have pledged to train more than 100 apprentices by the end of the year.
The region has the highest jobless figures in the UK and with nearly one in four young people out of work, this will be seen as a welcome boost during Apprenticeship Week which starts on Monday.
A total of 11 housing associations have signed up to for the National Housing Federation’s Apprenticeship Scheme.
Next Friday they will meet at the Radisson Hotel Durham to cement the agreement and hear first hand about the experiences of apprentices. The social housing providers include Gateshead Housing, Bernicia Group, Gentoo Living Sunderland, and Derwentside Homes, Durham.
Monica Burns, the Federation’s lead manager for the North East said: “I am delighted that the North East is leading the way during Apprenticeship Week by committing to take on more apprenticeships.
“Young people will be offered apprenticeships in office work, plumbing, electrics and roofing. But the work must lead to a qualification and jobs at the end of it.”
She said that building contractors bidding for work at housing associations would also be asked to take on apprentices which would help to widen the possibilities for young people.
One young apprentice who has never looked back is 19-year-old Haydn Clark who had always wanted to be a plumber.
After successfully gaining 11 GCSEs, he decided not to continue in full-time education and made a life-changing decision to apply for an apprenticeship. When an opportunity came up at Derwentside Homes, Haydn jumped at the chance, not realising that he was applying for a training course in housing management, not fixing leaking pipes.
Haydn from Stanley, County Durham, said: “They asked me in the interview if I wanted the job and I said yes. I have never looked back. I love the work. I deal with members of the public and I get proper training about housing management.”
The Bernicia Group, a social housing company responsible for 8,000 properties across the North East has taken on nine apprentices this year. Steve Eltringham, Director of Property and Estate Services started life as a 17-year-old apprentice.
Now aged 45, he is in senior management after going to university part time. He said: “Apprentices in the construction industry are really needed to kick-start the economy. As the workforce gets older we are in danger of losing key skills, so we need more.
“Apprenticeships give important life skills and later after gaining a trade, they can look to the future. Management is always an option.”
