We’re proud to reflect on a successful week filled with celebrations and activities to mark National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 10th-16th February 2025.

Throughout the week, we've focused on highlighting how apprenticeships are not just a great option for individuals, but an essential part of growing a skilled workforce that supports the local community, and building ‘Skills for Life’ - the theme for 2025's NAW campaign.

We've recently held a number of events to promote apprenticeships, careers in housing and celebrate our very own apprentices and the skills for life they are building. 

During NAW, we held an event to showcase the diverse and exciting career opportunities within the housing sector. Colleagues, their families and members of the public came along to learn about the variety of apprenticeships available within housing. Plus, Kidderminster College and Dudley College of Technology were on hand to provide expert guidance on apprenticeship opportunities from a training provider's perspective.

Just before NAW, a dedicated group of our apprentices took part in a litter-picking initiative across Birchen Coppice in Kidderminster. The activity was an opportunity to not only support our local community but for our apprentices to bond and get to know each other better, developing important skills like teamwork, environmental responsibility and community engagement at the same time.

We don't just celebrate and promote apprenticeships during this dedicated week in February, we raise awareness and support the development of our apprentices throughout the year. We run Apprentice Life Skills sessions once a month, covering a range of valuable topics. These sessions are designed to equip our apprentices with the tools they need to thrive both in the workplace and beyond. Alongside this, we regularly attend careers events at schools and colleges.

Recently, we had the pleasure of attending a careers fair at Stourport High School, where we took along some of our own apprentices to showcase the value of hands-on learning and career development. The day was a success, with both students and exhibitors leaving inspired and informed. For Community Housing, the event was an opportunity to build connections with the local community and demonstrate its commitment to investing in young talent. 

In addition to this, we also recently participated in Kidderminster College’s Foundations and Futures Forum at their newly opened Green Technology Centre. This event provided an excellent opportunity for current and new employers to network and collaborate, while also offering a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities. The Centre is set to play a key role in helping support local people by providing them with the skills they need to thrive.