Housing association creates 1,000 apprenticeships for city residents (From Daily Echo)

Housing association creates 1,000 apprenticeships for city residents

4:50pm Monday 28th January 2013 in News

A HOUSING association has pledged to get its unemployed residents on the job market by creating 1,000 apprenticeships.

Showing its commitment to get residents into work it has matched a grant it received of £1m with the apprentices to receive Radian training over the next three years, in the hope they will find a job.

Those that Radian cannot find jobs for, all receive a reference to help them in their future job search.

Ashley Hawkins from Bitterne is one trainee who secured a permanent job through Radian’s partnership with public service provider A4E.

He describes the journey as “life changing” but admits he would “never have gone into housing” if it was not for the training scheme.

“When they told me I’d got a permanent contract just before Christmas, I was delighted. It gives me security and I can now relax a little, knowing that I have a job now,” said the 21-year-old.

Ian Haworth, head of Radian’s Solent team, said: “Radian has always believed it is important to help residents overcome problems they have when trying to find work.

“The work of the team highlights that by working with other agencies we can make a real difference to families living on our estates.”