Marked rise in apprenticeships at Housing 21
Leading social enterprise, Housing 21, has a lot to celebrate for National Apprenticeship Week 2012. Less than a year ago, as one of just a handful of organisations offering Qualifications and Credit Framework Apprenticeships, Housing 21 had only two apprentices. Twelve months on, over 500 Housing 21 employees are studying towards accredited awards.
Housing 21 launched its new Apprenticeship Qualification Framework in May 2001, opening up opportunities for new and existing employees to benefit from the nationally accredited qualifications in health and social care, housing and business administration.
During National Apprenticeship Week, which will be running from 6th to 10th February, Housing 21 will be working with the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) to help raise the profile of Apprenticeships.
Liz Scott-Walter, vocational services business partner for Housing 21 said: “We’re delighted to be involved in National Apprenticeships Week. Housing 21 is committed to investing in the professional development of our workforce and this is an excellent opportunity to highlight the success of our apprentices as well as encourage more people into careers in the health and social care sector.”
Over the next 12 months Housing 21 plans to deliver around 1000 frameworks to help young people and adults into professional careers as they learn through employment. The Apprenticeship Framework has enabled Housing 21 employees to gain nationally accredited qualifications in English and Maths as well as underpinning knowledge or technical certificates in their chosen vocational area.
Additional benefits for Housing 21 have been a reduction in staff turnover and an increase in productivity, as well as the provision of a high quality trained workforce for customers and service users.
Housing 21 launched this initiative and substantial joint investment programme in partnership with the National Apprenticeship Service and Skills for Care.
For more information visit Housing 21’s website at www.housing21.co.uk or call their recruitment hotline on 0370 192 4345. Further information on the National Apprenticeship Service can be obtained from www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
For further information, please contact Wendy Gornicki, PR & Information Officer, Housing 21 on 0370 192 4338 or email wendy.gornicki@housing21.co.uk
Housing 21’s mission is to promote independence and choice for older people through quality care, health and housing services. It provides around 131,000 hours of care each week and manages 18,700 sheltered and extra care apartments, providing services to more than 31,000 service users.
Keep up to date with Housing 21 at www.facebook.com/housing21.co.uk or via our website www.housing21.co.uk, or follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Housing21news