They’ve got the ‘A Factor’

But instead of perming lotion and scissors, the tools of Emily’s trade include a spanner and pipe cutter. The 17-year-old is an apprentice plumber for social housing group Incommunities, which runs a structured apprenticeship programme, combining college-based learning with on-the-job training.

Now Incommunities, which won Employer of the Year at the Telegraph & Argus’s Bradford Means Business Awards in March, is asking other potential apprentices – have you got the ‘A Factor’?

The housing group has launched a summer recruitment campaign for its award-winning apprenticeship programme, and so far there are more than 500 applicants.

The ‘A Factor’ campaign offers trainee vacancies in electricals, gas plumbing, joinery and plastering.

The apprenticeship opportunities are open to anyone aged 16 and over looking to build a construction career with one of the North’s leading social housing providers.

“Our apprenticeship programme is always popular – we currently have 508 applicants for eight places,” says chief executive Geraldine Howley.

“What I like about the programme is that we have a wide age range of apprentices, from 17 to 47. It’s not just for school-leavers; some people are older and looking to retrain in a different job, some have been unemployed for a while, and some have taken a break to raise a family. More than a third of our apprentices are women,” says Geraldine. “This age group had been missing out on opportunities like this beforehand, and we had been missing out on their skills and potential.”

Incommunities is the largest social landlord in the district, with around 22,000 rented homes and almost 1,000 leasehold properties. Its three-year apprenticeship programme combines college studies with working alongside the group’s experienced tradespeople on its multi-million-pound maintenance and modernisation programme. “They get a flavour of the organisation, and work in properties across the district,” says Geraldine. “As well as doing repairs, they help with refurbishments and put in new kitchens and bathrooms under our in-house building services group, Propertysolutions.”

Alongside learning a trade for life, apprentices gain experience of public speaking. “We work closely with schools, starting at primary level, and colleges,” says Geraldine.

“Apprentices go in and talk about their work; speaking in public gives them confidence and it enables young people to find out about career opportunities in the construction sector, and apprenticeships. The apprentices eventually become mentors themselves.

“We held a successful open day in Centenary Square last year. We’re very pro-active in attracting a diverse workforce, including women and people from black and minority ethnic communities.”

The apprenticeship programme is seen as a model of good practice, regionally and nationally, and is sponsored by local and national companies, including Magnet and Randstad CPE. Geraldine hopes its success will inspire other companies to set up similar schemes.

“There is a huge demand, so it would be good to see more opportunities like this,” she says. “These are difficult economic times, but I believe it is important that employers remain committed to investing in apprenticeships. They offer people a valuable training route into a rewarding career. Employers benefit from a motivated and loyal workforce.

“Many of our apprentices go from junior roles to management. We showcase the terrific contribution of our apprentices at our Apprentice of the Year Awards, and it’s great to see colleagues being supportive of each other.”

Delroy Beverley, director of Propertysolutions and a member of the National Apprenticeship Task Force, is responsible for managing the apprenticeship programme. He says the scheme plays a social role, as well as a business one.

“We provide housing and mend leaky taps, but we also provide work for many apprentices living on the estates where much of our housing is,” says Delroy. “We have seen a massive uptake from people who have been made redundant or are looking for a life-changing career. People say. ‘you don’t know what this means to me’.

“The work we do in schools and at open days is crucial, not only in raising awareness of the programme and enabling apprentices to talk publicly about their work, but also in breaking down perceptions that it’s just white men working in this kind of job.

“Incommunities had the first-ever Asian female gas plumber. We are committed to investing in a diverse, highly-skilled workforce and encouraging all our apprentices – from school-leavers to people looking to take a new career path – to fulfil their potential. We take this aspect of our social responsibility extremely seriously.”

There are more than 25 men and women on the 2011 apprenticeship programme. Each apprentice is trained to a minimum of NVQ level 3 qualification after completing a three-year programme in general trades, and four years in gas plumbing and electricals.

Emily Cook started a plumbing apprenticeship with Incommunities last September. Working with the housing group’s training provider, City Training Services, she attends Bradford College one day a week, studying for the technical diploma and key skills elements of the qualification.

She’s learning how to fit kitchens and bathrooms, and fit and repair central heating systems, and finds the hands-on experience invaluable. “There are lots of different aspects to plumbing, and I’m learning skills for life,” she says. “I did a BTEC in construction at school and decided to take up plumbing. It’s perceived as male-dominated so it’s good for people to see that girls like me can do it. It’s a great opportunity.”

Anthony Veigas, 19, is Incommunities’ Apprentice of the Year 2010/2011. Currently in his final year of a four-year plumbing apprenticeship, he has ambitions to move into management.

“There are lots of opportunities in this company. I’m hoping to become a gas plumber and work my way up,” he says.

“I knew when I was at school that I didn’t want an office job. I enjoy learning practical skills that I will always have. You learn a lot on the job, and come into contact with many different people, so there’s a customer services aspect to it too. You can’t beat hands-on experience, and I’m starting to work more independently now.

“I also enjoy the college side of it – there’s a sense of achievement working towards the qualification, and you make a lot of friends.”

Jordan Marshall, 18, is in his second year of studying an NVQ in electro technical services. His work includes rewiring domestic properties and installing and repairing CCTV and alarms.

“I wanted to learn a trade – everybody needs an electrician,” he says. “As well as getting practical experience and a qualification, you develop social skills because you’re dealing with lots of people. I’d like to work my way up the ladder here.”

To apply online for a place on Incommunities’ apprenticeship programme, go to incommunities.co.uk/ job-opportunities. The closing date is Monday, May 16. For more information on apprenticeship opportunities with Incommunities, call (01274) 257051.