BHA apprenticeships offer high quality work-based learning

Charley Hall and Katie Young are just six months into their apprenticeships at Berwickshire Housing Association (BHA), but they are already aiming to make a career for themselves in the housing sector.

Charley, from Chirnside, applied for an apprenticeship after reading about the scheme on a website, while Katie spotted the opportunity on her school bulletin board and jumped at the chance.

Modern Apprenticeships allow people to learn on the job as well as getting much-needed experience. Apprentices also work towards a qualification and get paid.

Both apprentices say they have already developed their skills at BHA due to the variety of the work involved.

Charley Hall said:

“My work with the housing officers, for example, has been so reactive, but in a good way. You see people getting a new home, and they are so appreciative, then, you can get someone complaining that their neighbour has put their bins out in the wrong place. There’s never a dull moment!

“We don’t get treated any differently than the other members of staff. We are given a job title with responsibility and our work is varied. I would recommend a Modern Apprenticeship to anyone.”

Katie Young, from Coldstream, has spent her first six months in the Corporate Services and Finance departments and grabbed the chance of an apprenticeship with both hands. She has been very impressed by the way she has been treated by both her employers and work colleagues. She said:

“I love it, everyone is so friendly and eager to help build our skills. There’s so much to learn, something new comes up every day.

“A Modern Apprenticeship was not something I would have thought of when I was younger, but I am glad I have gone along this route rather than go to college. It’s a great way of learning, and you are not stuck doing the same thing every day.”

John Bain, Resources Director at BHA, said:

“BHA is delighted to be working with our latest apprentices Charley and Katie. They give us their youth, energy and ideas and, in return, we can give them the opportunity to grow and develop their future careers.”

As Modern Apprentices. individuals get the confidence and qualifications they need to succeed. And businesses build the talent, productivity and motivation they need to grow.

There are already more than 37,000 young people working, learning and earning as Modern Apprentices.

And it’s a real success story – 91% of apprentices are still in employment six months after completing their Modern Apprenticeship; and 96% of employers say former apprentices are better equipped to do their job. 

BHA said it will continue to work with schools to accommodate work placement students, allowing them the chance to learn and understand the workplace and perhaps consider a future career in the housing sector.

Pictured: Berwickshire Housing Association’s two Modern Apprentices (left to right) Charley Hall and Katie Young.