Social housing firm welcomes new apprentices to fill skills gap

A social housing landlord is helping kickstart the careers of future generations by addressing a skills gap in the housing sector.

As part of its drive to support its colleagues to thrive within the workplace, Trent & Dove, based in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, has welcomed four apprentices who will gain hands-on experience in a working environment and develop skills across different departments.

Owen Satchwell, Ethan Samrai, Joe Grummett and Freya Harvey, all from Derbyshire, are working towards a Business Administration Level 3 in partnership with Burton & South Derbyshire College.

Owen, aged 18, comes from Swadlincote, completing A-levels in economics, business studies and maths.

Owen wants to transfer his business knowledge into real-life skills within the housing industry. He is currently a pub barman, and due to his knowledge, friendly attitude, and work ethic, he is often tasked with training new recruits.

18-year-old Ethan has worked in customer-facing roles as Customer Advisor at B&Q and Retail Associate at TK Maxx. He brings a wealth of experience in the customer journey and hopes his time with Trent & Dove will complement that.

Ethan has joined the Development team to provide support and will be getting to know our portfolio of homes while gathering in-depth knowledge on our leasehold and service charges.

 22-years-old Joe, from Swadlincote, has already built up strong interpersonal skills within the telesales industry. Showing a caring side, Joe has also spent the last 16 months as a volunteer at the PDSA.

Joe wants to develop his workplace skillset through an apprenticeship, while gaining qualifications to provide him with everything he needs for a great career.

Freya Harvey started her journey at her local restaurant, starting behind the scenes in the kitchen and working her way up to waitressing at the front of house.

After gaining three A-Levels at sixth form, Freya worked at a tea room in her hometown of Swadlincote.

Now aged 19, Freya is looking forward to working for Trent & Dove because she views this as an amazing opportunity.

The new recruits have received support from four apprentices already thriving within Trent & Dove and using their newly developed skills across different departments.

The educational initiative seeks to address a skills gap within the housing sector – an issue highlighted during last week’s Housing Community Summit.

Hosted by the National Housing Federation (NHF) and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), the national event brought together housing professionals and stakeholders to discuss challenges like training a future-ready workforce and finding solutions to build a more skilled and resilient housing workforce.

Trent & Dove CEO Ursula Bennion said: “We are delighted to welcome our new apprentices and to invest in their futures by equipping them with the essential skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

“With the housing sector facing a growing skills gap, initiatives such as this are crucial in developing the next generation of skilled professionals. By supporting apprenticeships, we are helping to ensure the sector has the talent it requires to address future challenges.

“At Trent & Dove, we are committed to going beyond expectations to transform lives, homes, and communities. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy life, to succeed, and to be treated with respect. Whether on the road, working from home, or in the office, what unites us is a shared commitment to building a better future for all.

“We take pride in our work because we see the difference it makes daily. We continue to achieve and grow by enhancing our skills for the benefit of our colleagues and customers.”