Circle Housing has launched five short films to celebrate the benefits of apprenticeship schemes in the housing sector. Each film (online at www.circleopportunities.org.uk) follows an apprentice from Circle Housing as they complete a day’s work at the organisation.
Samantha Caunt was one of the apprentices to take part after swapping places with Circle Housing’s chief executive Mark Rogers and starring in an online film. She said, “I thought the job swap with Mark Rogers was great. It really helped me to see what it involves to be a CEO and helped me to understand how the different parts of the organisation come together.
“We talked about the difference apprenticeships make to people who might otherwise find it difficult to get the right opportunities and prove themselves. It has been really good to take part in the filming and show the benefits of working as an apprentice in the housing sector.”
As well as the in-house roles provided by Circle Housing, each of its contractors is committed to providing one apprenticeship opportunity within their business for every £0.5m that Circle Housing spends with them.
Last year, Circle Housing was awarded a ‘Big Tick’ accreditation from the charity Business in the Community for its employment and skills programme which helps more than 9,000 people into working and training opportunities every year.
Mark Rogers, chief executive, Circle Housing, said, “The housing sector is a great place for apprentices to learn and develop for the future. For example, our programme employs apprentices in teams within construction, administration, communications and customer services. Importantly, nearly two-thirds of apprentices at Circle Housing will go on to permanent roles in the organisation.”
