Emma visited Wolverhampton Homes to meet with former Wednesfield High School student Chloe Hollyoak who has secured an apprenticeship at Wolverhampton Homes through the organisation’s Learning Employment Achievement Programme (LEAP).Chloe, who is 20 and from Wednesfield, has been taken on as a Customer Services Adviser on a year-long apprenticeship after undertaking an eight week work experience placement with the company. Chloe talked with Emma about her experience as a LEAP trainee. Chloe originally found out about LEAP through a jobs fair at The Molineux in spring and she is now being supported to do an NVQ level 2 in Customer Services.

Chloe said: “After school I didn’t know what I wanted to do and tried hairdressing but I didn’t get on with it. I’d been unemployed for a year when I heard about LEAP.

“Now I’m working in customer services, everyone says it’s what I should have been doing all along because it suits me so well, I love everything about it!”

Emma Reynolds MP said: “I am very impressed with the progress that Chloe has made and the opportunities that Wolverhampton Homes’ LEAP and apprenticeship programmes have given her.

“It would be good if other employers could give the same opportunities to young unemployed people in the city and I would encourage tenants who might want to join LEAP to find out more by phoning 01902 556789 or visiting www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk for more information.”

December 2012