Apprenticeship week 2021

National Apprenticeship Week 2021 takes place from 8 to 14 February 2021.

The annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships will shine a light on the amazing work being done by employers and apprentices across the country.

We are very proud of apprentices and apprenticeship programme committed to developing young people and currently have 13 apprentices and improver roles across the business. We want to continue providing these opportunities, to give people safe, high quality placements with a company who cares. We are developing a grow your own culture, ensuring we provide opportunities for people to not only join the business but to develop and progress.

An apprenticeship is a job with training, open to anyone who is 16 and over, with no upper age limit, working alongside our experienced staff gaining job-specific qualifications.

Apprenticeships mean you are employed and will earn while you learn, so you can gain an industry specific qualification without needing a student loan. You are employed full-time with us (35 hours per week), which includes the time spent with your training provider.

We will continue to expand our apprentice programme and are working with our Development Team and our subsidiary Candleston to provide more opportunities for local people.

We will be releasing apprenticeship opportunities later this year. If you would like to be notified when we have more details, please email us news@melinhomes.co.uk and we will contact you when we have more information.

Katie shared her story:
“My names Katie and I'm an electrical apprentice, I joined Melin in 2019. When I was leaving school towards the end of my A Levels I didn't know what I was going to do. I needed to find something I would enjoy.

"I became an apprentice because I wanted to work in a trade. I first came to Melin for some work experience to see if I would want to have a career being an electrician. Once I had spent some time with the Electrical Team I knew this was the career I wanted.

"I registered with a work-based learning provider, you have to pass exams that test your Maths and English, but I did it. I only had to wait a few months and an apprenticeship came up and I was successful at the interview.

"I really enjoy my job because I get to work and help so many different people. I also like helping the residents by fixing things. The different things I do in my role are:

• Fixing lights or replacing them.
• Fixing sockets or switches.
• Testing to make sure the consumer unit in a house or flat is all safe and correct.
• I also help wire up boilers and different heating systems.
• Replace showers that have stopped working.
• Clean and replace fans in the kitchen or bathroom.
• Repair or replace outside lighting.”

You can stay up to date with Katie's electrical apprentice journey by following her Instagram page – @katiethetinyspark

Daniel shared his story:
“My name’s Daniel and am a plumbing and heating apprentice in my second year of my apprenticeship, I joined Melin in 2020.

"The best thing about an apprenticeship is that you are always learning something new every day and that no two days are the same. The people I work with are so helpful and always take the time to talk you through something if you don't understand it. I also go to college one day a week ,which is really good. I find it very interesting and the things I learn in college really help with the practical work I do in my job, which is so important.

"I would say to anyone thinking about an apprenticeship, just do it you won't regret it. It’s the best thing I've decided to do."

We would like to thank our apprentices for sharing their stories. Happy National Apprenticeship Week.