The City of Edinburgh Council’s Housing service is investing in its repairs service for tenants while giving young people the opportunity to kickstart their careers.
The latest intake of nine new trainees through the Modern Apprenticeship programme brings the number of apprentices in the service to 25 – a record high - across trades including painting and decorating, joinery and plumbing.
By developing its in-house team, the Council aims to grow its skilled workforce to support the investment needed to improve the quality of its homes across the city.
Joinery apprentice Harry said:
I’ve mostly been doing repairs and I’ve been enjoying it, all the tenants are really nice. I like being able to visualise things, like building kitchens - having a view on what it could look like and then doing it and seeing the result at the end of it. It’s quite a good process, it’s satisfying.
Painting and decorating apprentice Sarah added:
My experience with the Council jobs are great - they all have been so different, so I get a chance to experience different techniques and ways to fix the problems.
Councillor Tim Pogson, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said:
In Edinburgh we continue to face a Housing Emergency, with demand for homes high and thousands of people living in temporary accommodation.
Having said that, we’re making good progress with actions to address these pressures, and thanks to this I’m pleased that the number of people living in unsuitable accommodation continues to drop.
Trainees brought in through the Modern Apprenticeship programme play a key role in bringing more homes into use and improving the comfort and quality of our tenants’ homes. I’m delighted to see a whole new intake of apprentices developing their skills across our estate, who will eventually have the opportunity of a permanent role at the Council when they complete their training.
The Council declared a housing emergency in November 2023 in response to rising homelessness, affordability pressures and significant demand for homes in the Capital.
In February, as part of the Housing and Homelessness Budget Investment Strategy, a record £1.6bn was committed to increasing affordable housing and reducing the use of temporary accommodation across the city. Bringing void Council houses back into use through repairs and improvements – and growing the in-house workforce - is central to this.
Apprenticeships at the Council offer paid work while gaining experience and recognised qualifications. Apprenticeships across the Council include social care, childcare, horticulture and business management.