National Apprenticeship Week 2025
Monday 3 February marks the beginning of National Apprenticeship Week 2025. At Melin we are proud to celebrate the incredible impact apprenticeships have on young people, our communities, and the local economy. As a housing association committed to providing high-quality homes and services, we recognise the value of training the next generation of skilled professionals in trades essential to social housing…
Written by Will
—10 Feb, 2025
Apprenticeships offer a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain hands-on experience while earning a wage and working towards a recognised qualification. At Melin, we employ apprentices across a range of trades, from plumbing and carpentry to electrical work, ensuring that they receive the best possible mentoring, support and access to opportunities at the outset of their careers.
Tyler Shorthouse, a second-year Apprentice Electrician at Melin, shared his experience of learning on the job:
“During my time in school, I always enjoyed the practicality of subjects compared to most theory-sided things. I enjoyed being hands-on with projects and was always much more engaged.”
For many apprentices like Tyler, learning through doing is far more interesting and engaging than traditional classroom education. Apprenticeships allow learners to use their problem-solving skills, creativity and build workplace confidence in a way that formal academic routes don’t.
One of the biggest advantages of an apprenticeship is variety. No two days are the same, and apprentices get to work in different environments, tackling real-world problems. As Tyler puts it:
Every day has been different, whether it's the place I'm working in, or the work I'm doing.
This diversity of experience helps apprentices build resilience and adaptability, key characteristics for those working in the housing sector. With expert guidance and support from our experienced tradespeople, they develop excellent knowledge within their chosen trade, allowing them to thrive in the workplace. For Tyler, the opportunity to constantly learn and tackle new challenges is what makes his apprenticeship so rewarding:
“My favourite part is working on new things which I haven't yet seen or interacted with. Different varieties of cable, installations, and places are what keep me interested in the job and help me understand what to expect in the future.”
Tyler Shorthouse on his Melin apprenticeship
Cayden McCarthy, another electrical apprentice at Melin also highlights how Melin’s positive work culture adds value to his apprenticeship, saying:
“It's a good healthy work environment where I can broaden my skills and knowledge in and around my role. I also always have the support and help if I ever need it.”
Furthermore, investing in apprenticeships doesn’t just benefit the apprentices themselves. It also strengthens our sector and the local economy more widely. By training young people in essential trades, we’re ensuring that communities have access to skilled professionals who can maintain and improve our housing stock for future generations. As Cayden puts it:
The electrical industry is always developing so new challenges always arise such as green renewable energy, battery storage, electric cars and EV charging points.
Melin is rightly proud of the work and learning our apprentices are doing and the difference they are making to the lives of our residents each day. Our apprenticeships are shaping the workforce of the future and ensuring Wales has the skills and people to meet the ever-growing need for quality housing. As move into our merger with Newport City Homes and become Hedyn we look forward to continuing to provide apprenticeship opportunities and using our increased size to offer a greater range and number of opportunities for young people in our communities.
This National Apprenticeship Week we want to say a big thank you to Tyler, Cayden and all of our apprentices past and present for the awesome contribution they have made to helping Melin communities thrive!
