Apprentice of the year Lisa Kaye is encouraging young people with the ‘A’ factor to follow her example.

Lisa, who won the Incommunities’ title last year, is now in her final year of training with the social landlord organisation as a joiner.

She is giving her backing to a new competition being run by her bosses for students across the district who are interested in building an exciting career in construction.

The ‘A’ factor is open to year ten, 11 and 12 secondary school students and is being supported by the National Apprenticeship Service.

Students taking on the challenge will need to show a judging panel that they have the skills, drive and aptitude to win a place on Incommunities’ award-winning apprenticeship programme.

Each summer the housing group runs a recruitment drive to fill a range of apprenticeship places covering different trades including joinery, bricklaying, plumbing and painting and decorating.

In 2010, more than 680 applications flooded in from people wanting to develop new careers with one of the north’s leading social housing providers – but the competition is in addition to this.

Lisa, 34, of Keighley, said the apprenticeship programme had given her a life-changing opportunity to make a career in construction.

She said: “It’s a good path into the world of work. The A factor is a fantastic opportunity for a local student to win a place on the programme – so I’d say go for it!”

Delroy Beverley, director of Incommunities Propertysolutions, said: “The ‘A’ factor is designed to bridge the gap in successfully engaging with the next generation of construction workers.

“We see this competition giving at least one successful student a life-changing opportunity to join the ranks of our high quality apprentices and take a big step towards building a rewarding career.

“The competition builds on our growing partnership with local schools through our ‘Boardroom to the Playground’ campaign.”