Apprentices are an investment says ACHA

Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) is looking to the future and investing in its workforce by taking on apprentices.

 

‘It is absolutely vital in these challenging times that we invest for the future,’ said Alastair MacGregor, the association’s  chief executive, before he retired at the end of last week.

 

‘We are committed also to retaining Argyll and Bute’s best young people and doing our bit to stop outward migration, and to keep our young people and offer them good career opportunities.’

 

The housing association recently agreed a 10-year strategy for repairs and maintenance with its subsidiary, Argyll Homes for All (AHFA).

 

ACHA continually invests in repairs and maintenance for the future of its stock and services to tenants; a key part of its strategy is getting the right workforce in place and succession planning for the future.

 

So subsidiary AHFA has included apprenticeships in its budget; five have been recruited already for a team of seven for the trades of plumbing, builder-work, joiner-work, and gas engineering linked to air-source heat pumps and solar panels.

 

These are alongside ACHA’s six modern apprentices in office-based roles in each of the association’s departments.

 

‘Housing offers a variety of career opportunities from, in our case, chimney-sweeps to care-workers, and a suite of opportunities in between,’ said Mr MacGregor.

 

‘The association’s commitment to attending school jobs fairs throughout Argyll and Bute is starting to deliver in terms of young people’s interest in housing as a career.’