Last week we held a successful cross-organisation event to promote opportunities within the housing sector.
Our Building Futures event, in partnership with Metropolitan Thames Valley (MTVH) and A2 Dominion, was held on Thursday 7 March. The event was online and open to all. The aim was to tell residents and others about apprenticeships in general but specifically the range available in housing associations.
As part of the event some already enjoying apprenticeships talked about their career journeys and shared some top tips for people interested in following the same path. They also answered some questions submitted by the audience in advance.
One of the speakers was Daniel Moloney who we helped get his apprenticeship with A and B Group. He was signed up to this apprenticeship through our Make It Happen programme alongside Shaw Trust who help break down barriers for people with disabilities getting into employment, apprenticeships, enterprise or training.
A and B Group are providing support and pastoral care as part of Daniel’s apprenticeship in painting and decorating, where he works on-site at our Grahame Park regeneration scheme in Barnet. Together with Shaw Trust we are working with Daniel towards his ‘In Work Support’ which will cover travel allowance and purchase of a laptop to aid his learning during his apprenticeship.
At the event he spoke about what attracted him to doing an apprenticeship, what a typical day looks like for him, time management and what he hopes to achieve by the end.
Caleb St Luce, our apprentice in the operations team, was another speaker and talked about how he’s grown personally and professionally, as well as dispelling some common myths about apprenticeships. Sharing his experience, he said: “Hopefully, the perspective/experience I was able to share would encourage someone to embark on a similar path.
“The apprenticeship route I took has certainly been beneficial to my career growth and personal development and I would encourage anyone looking for an apprenticeship to consider the housing sector.”
Other speakers at the event were Alishba, Jahmar and Henry who are currently working towards apprenticeships in property management, business administration, and property maintenance, as well as Joy and Qurratul who recently completed apprenticeships in accountancy and have now secured permanent roles in the finance team at MTVH
