Elaine Higgins, HR Business Partner at Rendall & Rittner discusses her day at Catch22’s Annual Apprenticeships and Employability Awards and shares some information regarding the new Level 3 Apprenticeship in Housing and Property Management.
Earlier this month I attended Catch22’s Annual Apprenticeships and Employability Awards, accompanied by apprentices, employers and those in the employability sector. The event took place at Barclay’s headquarters in Canary Wharf, during the 10th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week, focusing on this year’s theme ‘Ladder of Success’.
Keynote speaker, Nicki Thomson, Head of Barclays Business Services, brought the theme to life by highlighting the individual stories of career progression as well as the opportunity realised through apprenticeships and employment programmes and policies. Several apprentices and their employers also spoke about their journey and joy of learning while earning, and enthusiastically described their personal and professional development, which was the key message of the day.
I joined the Employer Panel led by Sean Williams, Catch22 Trustee and Chair of the Catch22 Apprenticeships and Employability Board, along with RWE npower, the Salvation Army and Barclays. We took questions from the floor, covering the potential increase of apprenticeships, developing new standards and school engagement to encourage young people that there is an excellent alternative study pathway into employment, directly through an apprenticeship.
Catch22 honoured learners, employers and apprentices who made a difference this year I am very pleased to say Rendall & Rittner won the Large Employer of the Year Award. I went up on stage to accept the award from Chris Wright, CEO of Catch22 on behalf of the company. Our award was also in recognition of our work as an important contributor to the successful development of the new Housing and Property Management Apprenticeship Standard. We received this award because we have worked tirelessly with Catch22, the Institute of Residential Property Management and the Chartered Institute of Housing to develop the pilot programme for this Standard, to ensure our entire industry benefits from this very exciting apprenticeship Standard.
As the lead employer for this new Housing and Property Management Apprenticeship, we are very pleased to have recruited five Apprentice Property Managers who joined the company earlier this month. Alongside two members of Rendall & Rittner’s onsite staff who will be taking the apprenticeship to upskill their qualifications. The apprentices are joined by a further eight apprentices from two other participating companies on the new pilot course.
