Seven Barnet residents have been given a helping hand to develop a career in housing thanks to a new apprenticeship scheme launched by Barnet Homes.

The apprentices will be developing their skills over the next 12 months in a number of different services offered by the arms length management organisation (ALMO), which manages 15,000 homes on behalf of Barnet Council. They will receive pay and will spend one day a week studying for a nationally recognised award of apprentice in housing.

The new apprenticeship scheme attracted interest from dozens of residents following publicity in the June edition of Barnet Homes’ athome newsletter.

Residents were invited to an information evening to learn more about the scheme before going through a formal application and interview process. The successful applicants include a former football coach, a carer and three full-time mothers.

The scheme is the latest part of Barnet Homes’ ‘Feeling the Squeeze?” campaign, launched in early 2009 to support residents through the economic downturn.

Barnet Homes Chief Executive, Tracey Lees, said: “I’m extremely proud to welcome the seven new apprentices to Barnet Homes. They have a wide range of backgrounds and should all bring something extra to our company. We’re delighted to have them here.

“We pride ourselves on involving residents in all that we do, and that includes working for Barnet Homes itself. After all, the people who receive our services are best placed to understand how we can improve them.

“I hope the apprentices will go on to have fruitful careers at Barnet Homes. In the meantime we’ll continue to look at new ways we can support all of our tenants and leaseholders through this difficult economic climate as part of our ‘Feeling the Squeeze?’ commitment.

The apprentices are:

Myles Killeen-Duffy, of Dollis Valley Way, EN5
Aurora Antonio, of Green  Lane, HA8
Bharat Taank, of Cricklewood Lane, NW2
Jennifer Nicholls, of Brunswick Park Road, N11
Sarah Noonan, of Granville Road, NW2
Daisy Kao, of The Concourse, NW9
Anifa Junusso, of Oldberry Road, HA8

Jennifer Nicholls said: “I used to work as a financial broker but I’m a single mother of three and have been out of work for the past 18 years. I’ve found it very difficult to back into the workplace after such a long time.

“It was my daughter who mentioned apprenticeships to me – I was willing to do anything free of charge to get back into work. I saw the apprentice article in the newsletter and thought ‘wow’.

I hope this will lead to a long career – I want to grow within the company and hopefully be here until I’m 65!”

Fellow apprentice Bharat Taank said: “I’ve worked in engineering and most recently in the NHS, but I’ve been unemployed since last July.

“All of a sudden the athome newsletter came through the door and I thought the apprenticeship was a great opportunity. It was a chance for a new career and it sounded like something I was capable of doing.

“I’ve been on the outside as a resident of Barnet Homes so I know what a tough job this might be, but I really want to give great customer service.”