National Apprenticeship Week: Skills for life

Published: 8 February 2023

Derby Homes is a thriving place for apprenticeships and offer a huge range of opportunities every year.

In the past 10 years we’ve had 126 people join their apprenticeship programme, with 47 finding full-time employment with us.

Even our Managing Director Maria Murphy started her career as an apprentice at Derby City Council.

She said:

“When I left school, I like many people had little idea about what I wanted to do workwise. At the time there was what was called a Youth Training Scheme. This was a scheme that provided work-based learning experience.

“Of course, over 40 years ago the scheme was not as developed as our Apprenticeships are today, the training wasn’t college based, but it did provide me with the skills and confidence to survive in the work environment. 

"After completing the scheme I applied for a role in the Housing Department as a Repairs Clerk.  This was my first ‘proper’ job and gave me the opportunity to start studying whilst I was earning a wage.

"I completed my BTEC in Business Administration progressing through work-based learning to study for my professional qualification with the Institute of Housing and then subsequently a post-graduate degree in Management and Leadership at Derby University.

“Looking back I know that the academic route into employment wouldn’t have worked for me, I thrived on learning from others and being part of teams that delivered services to our customers.

“Of course, the learning side is important but underpinning the theory with on the job experience made it meaningful for me. I hope that this has helped me become the person that I am today, a person that is always looking to develop others and support them into the right careers.

“Apprenticeships can help people shape themselves, find out what they are good at, and what they are not so good at. Most importantly for me is that an Apprenticeship supports that transition from education to employment enabling people to develop a good work ethic alongside gaining important skills and experience.”

Find out more about apprenticeships.

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