City West marks National Apprenticeship Week with 10 new jobs and work experience opportunities

Published by Bobbie Hough for City West Housing Trust in Housing

A Salford landlord has marked National Apprenticeship Week, by confirming it is creating 10 new jobs and offering work experience opportunities to support young people across its communities.

City West Housing Trust, which owns and manages 14,600 homes across West Salford, has created 10 new apprenticeship roles in a wide variety of positions including quantity surveyors, joiners and bricklayers.

Three of the positions will see apprentices working with building firm Bardsley Construction on City West’s major new housing development at Amblecote.

The landlord has also teamed up with Salford and Eccles MP Hazel Blears to support the Kids Without Connections project – which helps provide work experience opportunities for young unemployed people across the City.

As part of its work with the project, City West is taking part in a speed-dating style event on Friday March 15, where young job seekers can meet up with local employers.

Those taking part in the event will have the chance to land real life work experience opportunities across the Trust in areas such as housing, neighbourhoods, enterprise and repairs and maintenance. All the roles are linked to potential longer term apprenticeship opportunities with the landlord.

Viv Simon, Head of Enterprise at City West Housing Trust, said: “We have a commitment to supporting young people in our communities and ensuring that they benefit from the jobs that we create.

“Since City West was formed in 2008 we have already created 184 apprenticeship positions and we are extremely proud to be offering even more.

“We’re also thrilled to be working with Hazel Blears MP on the Kids Without Connections project. This will give us another chance to create opportunities for those people who fear they are being left on the employment scrapheap and give them a chance to shine in work and improve their job prospects.”

Hazel Blears, Labour MP for Salford and Eccles, said: “I am thrilled that City West is giving much-needed opportunities to young people in Salford by offering them apprenticeships and taking part in my Kids Without Connections scheme.

“There are so many talented young people here in Salford, but it can be difficult for them to find jobs if they do not have the experience  and we need more employers to give them that chance to get their foot in the door.

“I hope they will repay the faith City West shows in them and I’m delighted that the trust has indicated that those who shine during their work experience could be considered for an apprenticeship.

“That will be a fantastic incentive for those taking part.”