To mark National Apprenticeship Week (10-16 Feb) The Guinness Partnership, one of England’s largest housing associations, is celebrating its apprenticeship programme and the value apprentices bring to local communities.
This year is the 18th annual National Apprenticeship Week, coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service. This week-long celebration across England, is a time to recognise and applaud apprenticeship success stories across the country.
Leah Sheard from Oldham has been an apprentice electrician with Guinness since 2023, carrying out a variety of tasks, including the installation of light fittings, sockets and switches. Last year Leah took part in SPARKS, a nationwide contest for women studying electrical installation courses and has supported Guinness’s training manager with careers events to promote apprenticeships.
As well as workplace training with Guinness, once a week Leah attends classes in the Construction Centre at Oldham College, where she attends theory classes and carries out training tasks.
The Guinness Partnership has invested in trade apprenticeships for several years, covering all the key trade areas such as electrical and property maintenance, plumbing, joinery, plastering.
During 2024 eight trade apprentices were recruited and are still completing their apprenticeships, which typically last three to four years.
Commenting on her career choice, Leah said: “I am really enjoying both the learning side and the practical side of becoming an electrician. I look forward to becoming qualified and seeing where I can take my career in the future.”
Edd Draper, Training Manager at The Guinness Partnership said: “Providing apprenticeship opportunities is a key way of promoting skills development and increasing diversity across the construction and housing maintenance sectors.
“We are extremely proud of Leah and the progress she has made with her apprenticeship course. She is an inspiration to anyone considering a trade career.”
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