Value of apprenticeships to be showcased at North East exhibition

Coast & Country is supporting young people from housing associations across the region who are organising a major conference and exhibition celebrating apprenticeships.

One of the largest regeneration and housing companies in the North East, Coast & Country hosted an Apprentice Celebration Event (ACE) planning day at its Westfield Farm community resource centre in Dormanstown.

Every aspect of the exhibition and conference, which is being held as part of National Apprenticeship Week in March, is being prepared by 22 apprentices who work for North East social housing providers comprising Coast & Country, Gentoo, Home, Livin, Derwentside, Bernicia and North East Procurement.

The day at Westfield Farm was spent fine-tuning the plans and phoning schools and colleges across the North East inviting them to attend ACE, which is being held at Ramside Hall, near Durham, on March 7.

Joe Rudd, 18, an electrical apprentice with Coast & Country, is a member of the team organising the event.

He said: “As a group of apprentices, we feel it is important to promote the value of apprenticeships. ACE aims to educate young people that university isn’t the only option when it comes to pursing a good career.”

Joe had started studying A-levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry at College, but realised this was not the right route for him.

With ambitions of being an electrical engineer after doing work experience with an electrical contractor while at school, he decided an apprenticeship would suit him better. He started at Coast & Country in February last year.

The young team have carefully prepared for the event at Ramside Hall, booking the venue and marketing the event by designing their own posters and promoting the event in schools.

Iain Sim, Coast & Country chief executive, said: “These apprentices are to be commended for showing resourcefulness and initiative in organising this major event and Coast & Country was only too happy to support their enterprise and creativity by allowing the group to use Westfield Farm for a planning day.

“The social housing sector has forged a track record of recruiting apprentices to help train a future generation of workers that are so vital to the fabric and economic wellbeing of the region.”

ACE is designed to showcase apprentice experiences and journeys into work as well the real value apprenticeships can give a company.

It will comprise a Careers Exhibition and a Conference that will be hosted by National Housing Federation Chief Executive David Orr.

The apprentices are inviting North East employers and training providers, which are known to have a positive attitude towards young people/apprentices, to take a stand at the Careers Exhibition and attend the Conference.

Housing associations offer a range of first-class apprenticeships, ranging from horticulture and plumbing to construction and office-based roles, which last between one and three years. The aim is equip young people with the right skills and qualifications to gain permanent jobs at the end of their employment contracts.