Two more young people have started work this Easter at a Wear Valley Company whose record in taking on apprentices means it has reached the finals of a regional award.
Dale & Valley Homes, which manages more than 4,200 council homes in Wear Valley, has reached the regional finals of the Apprenticeship Awards and the winner will be announced later this month.
Seventeen-year-olds Matthew Burrell and Stacey Gibbon are the latest in a long line of apprentices to work for Dale & Valley Homes.
Human resources manager Angela Foster said, “Ten per cent of the company’s staff have been apprentices at one time and most of those who have come to train with us are still here as permanent members of staff.
“We are delighted to offer a start in the world of work to young people, especially when local unemployment is so high and the economy has been in such a bad way.
“We work closely with Bishop Auckland College to ensure the young people who come to us have a thorough grounding in the skills needed to work in a modern company.
“They attend college for half a day a week and the rest of the time they are learning on the job.”
Dave Sanders, director of resources for the company, added, “We are really pleased to have reached the finals of the Apprenticeship Awards.
“As a company we believe in giving young people opportunities and have developed the careers of many former apprentices.
“We know the scheme is successful because we see what happens to the young people afterwards but winning an award would be the icing on the cake.”
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
