New housing apprenticeship is launched

Feb 2010

A new apprenticeship is being launched that will help staff in housing meet increasing challenges caused by the recession.

The level 3 qualification is for existing or potential housing officers, who have seen their workload change drastically in recent years.

It has been developed by Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for housing, in consultation with key partners and employers.

"This apprenticeship will help improve skills among staff in housing who have had to tackle significant shifts in their work," said Richard Beamish, Chief Executive of Asset Skills.

"Recent environmental regulations changed the way housing stock is run and maintained, while the downturn created a surge in demand for affordable housing."

The advanced apprenticeship is on a par with A-Levels and is being launched at a Peabody training centre on 3 February during national Apprenticeship Week. This is held every year to promote the Government's new premier route for learning among young people.

The new framework is based on three strands - management of housing assets, community development, and supported housing. Topics include:

• property inspections
• community development
• helping customers move and settle into new living environments
• managing temporary accommodation
• providing support to customers to reduce the risk of homelessness
• enabling individual to maintain contacts in a potentially isolating situations

Apprenticeships offer a solution to skills shortages, still one of the biggest threats to UK businesses. They help attract young people into the workforce, who then develop the skills every organisation needs to thrive.

The mixture of on- and off-job learning ensures apprentices gain the skills that work best for their employers. Apprenticeships provide an excellent chance for young people to gain professional recognition through vocational qualifications and work experience. As an employee, they can earn as they learn while gaining valuable workplace knowledge.

For more information about the housing apprenticeship please visit the Asset Skills website at www.assetskills.org, email enquiries@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2888 (local rate call).