Young people join team at Dale & Valley Homes

Published by Frances Griss for Dale & Valley Homes in Housing and also in Communities, Education

Two new apprentices have joined a local company where a quarter the workforce were once in the same position.

Lauren Pickering and Matthew Dowson are 18-year-olds who have just started work with Dale & Valley Homes. They found the placements, which are due to last one year, through Bishop Auckland College.

Lauren, from Cockfield, said: “I knew people who worked here and they said everybody was really friendly and that it as a good place to work.”

Matthew, who comes from Bishop Auckland, added: “The days go really quickly. Hopefully I will get a full time job here in the future.”

While with Dale & Valley Homes the pair will learn all aspects of office work and gain an insight into how council homes are managed, working with different teams throughout the organisation.

Carol Porter, who is responsible for apprentices at the company, said: “Most of the apprentices who have come to us in the past are still here in jobs throughout the organisation.

“At a time when it can be very difficult for young people to find work we feel it is important to give people from the community where we work a chance to gain experience, learn skills and even find themselves a career.

“It is early days for Lauren and Matthew but they are already proving to be valuable members of the team.”