Wolverhampton North East MP and Labour’s Shadow Housing Minster, Emma Reynolds has given a big thumbs up to a group of local apprentices who are helping to transform a local estate in Wednesfield.Emma joined apprentices from Wolverhampton Homes to look at the improvement works they’ve been doing on the Castlebridge Gardens estate, as they cut their teeth in the building trade.

The apprentices, who all live in council houses in the city, are on a twelve month apprenticeship with Wolverhampton Homes and are honing their skills by learning the building trade. The team of apprentices are part of the ‘Wolverhampton Works’ social enterprise project, setup by Wolverhampton Homes last year to support the improvement projects it is already running across the city.

The apprentices are being mentored and coached by existing Wolverhampton Homes’ trades staff and are learning about fencing, brickwork and landscaping.

Emma Reynolds said: “It was great to visit Castlebridge Gardens in Wednesfield, in my constituency, to see so many young apprentices at work during National Apprenticeship Week. I was particularly impressed by the construction skills they have learnt, which they are putting to good use transforming the local area and improving the standards of the homes in Castlebridge Gardens for local residents.

“I want to congratulate Wolverhampton Homes for their innovative and enterprising ‘Wolverhampton Works’ social enterprise project, which is giving these local young apprentices a fantastic opportunity to cut their teeth in the building trade.

“Apprenticeships offer a clear path to a successful career, and National Apprenticeship Week is a great opportunity to highlight both the value of apprenticeships and the great work that apprentices do. This Coalition Government should be doing more to help innovative organisations like Wolverhampton Homes create more apprenticeship opportunities for young people in Wolverhampton and elsewhere.”  

Shaun Aldis, Director of Property Services at Wolverhampton Homes added: “The great thing about these apprenticeships is that we’re giving these youngsters a chance to learn about the construction trade and develop practical skills which will hopefully help them get jobs later on. But it’s not just about practical skills, we’re helping them to get qualifications and to get ready for the real world of work and it’s great to see them doing such a good job.”

March 2014