Beyond Housing is celebrating the success of a joint project to promote work experience and apprenticeships in trades to women, with the recruitment of its latest apprentices.
The organisation is working with fellow north east housing providers Thirteen Group, Karbon Homes, Gentoo, Livin, County Durham Housing Group and Bernicia, in the project designed to encourage women to apply for traditionally male dominated trades.
Beyond Housing, the new partnership between Coast & Country Housing and Yorkshire Coast Homes, has taken on six new apprentices in Redcar, four of whom are female, across different areas of the organisation, including painting and decorating, plumbing and heating, electrical and development.
Ellie-May Jones (17), Gemma Allen (21), Chloe Elsworth (21), Thomas Iley (17), Jack Dye (17) and Shania Venis (16) are the first young people to benefit from an apprenticeship at the newly-formed organisation, which will offer them the chance to earn as they learn skills that will be invaluable for a future career.
Ellie-May was particularly delighted to win her apprenticeship after impressing during a work experience placement undertaken while studying at Middlesbrough College.
Emma Tooth, Apprenticeship Co-ordinator at Beyond Housing, said: “The more female role models there are in jobs that have in the past been considered the domain of men, the more girls will be encouraged to apply.
“We want women to realise this kind of apprenticeship sets you up with a trade for life, offering significant career opportunities. There is also a positive outcome for businesses where the gender pay gap is a concern.
“Beyond Housing is also committed to understanding if there are any significant cultural changes we need to make our property maintenance service become a more female-friendly work environment.
“Apprenticeships are a big part of the organisation’s culture, and we welcome all six young people and we want to ensure we help them grow and develop in their roles, just as Beyond Housing grows and develops.”