Celebrating your housing apprentices: Elderpark and Clydebank
Today’s apprentices are from Elderpark Housing Association and Clydebank Housing Association.
Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2019 is taking place from 4 to 8 March. To mark the week and celebrate the benefits Modern Apprenticeships bring to the housing sector – and the apprentices themselves – SFHA is featuring some of its members’ apprentices in Housing Scotland Today.
Today’s apprentices are from Elderpark Housing Association and Clydebank Housing Association.
Modern Apprentices Laura Gibbons and Lauren Herd, both 18, joined Elderpark in June 2018 on a two-year apprenticeship basis in administration.
Laura said that she was not aware of the housing sector as a career choice whilst at school and views it as a good career option. She has now become an integral part of the Corporate Services Team and is benefiting from a sound grounding in the various admin practices and values the support of the small friendly team. She also said she is gaining valuable communication skills in addition to her formal qualifications.
Lauren has settled seamlessly into her role with the Maintenance Team. She said she benefits from the opportunity to spend time in other departments, allowing her to gain further admin experience and develop her communication skills. Although she has not made any decisions regarding her future plans, Lauren said that she feels she would definitely consider the housing sector as a career choice after she completes her apprenticeship.
Clydebank Housing Association’s Modern Apprentice is Gemma Connell, 22. Gemma is based within Finance and Corporate Services.
Gemma, who recently completed a Business and Administration Apprenticeship, said: “I had worked in private letting and aspired to move into social housing. The attraction of the Modern Apprenticeship route was gaining both a qualification and relevant experience within a housing association.”
The apprenticeship has afforded Gemma excellent training and support, so with a Level 6 SVQ in Business and Administration and Level 3 Chartered Institute of Housing qualification already under her belt, there’s a bright future ahead for Gemma in the housing sector.