Apprentices are celebrating after completing their qualifications and gaining full-time employment at Nottingham City Homes (NCH) this week.
NCH is one of the top 100 apprenticeship employers in the country, and last year had a record 84 apprentices on their books. Six of them have now completed their apprentices and will start full-time roles within the construction side of the organisation.
Ben Kerr is one of those celebrating this success. After three and a half years as an apprentice, he is now a full time joiner. Ben said: “Doing my apprenticeship has been great because I was learning on the job, I was getting hands-on experience and I was earning a wage. It was great to learn all about other trades out there and it was nice to work with all the other apprentices and make some real friends. I am excited to start my new role, I feel like the hard work has finally paid off.”
This news comes as NCH celebrates National Apprenticeship Week (#NAW2019), which takes place between 4th and 8th March. This annual celebration brings apprentices, training providers and employers together to recognise the positive impact apprenticeships have.
NCH is now recruiting for more apprentices for 2019, and as one of Nottingham’s largest employers, takes its responsibility to offer local jobs very seriously. A further 15 apprenticeships are up for grabs in this round.
NCH offers apprenticeships in business administration, customer service, caretaking, and in a range of construction trades — electrical, joinery, heating, plumbing, bricklaying, painting and plastering. Apprentices gain on-the-job training, study for a qualification and earn money while they learn.
Nick Murphy, NCH Chief Executive, said: “Apprentices are a vital asset to NCH. Employing local Nottingham people is so important to us; so to be able to offer so many apprentice opportunities is a boost for the city.
“We have worked hard to make the most of the Apprenticeship Levy. Our business has always benefited from the employment of apprentices, mainly within our construction trades. However the apprenticeship training opportunities now available cover many different professions within the Company.”
NCH offers its employees and Nottingham residents the opportunity to learn new skills and develop their knowledge and experience, through its comprehensive learning and development programme for staff, and its Academy for residents.
It has even created its own Training Station, based at its Harvey Road site in Bilborough. The Training Station was partially built by apprentices, enabling them to gain valuable experience.
