THE City of Edinburgh Council has announced a record number of trade apprentices, following its most recent intake.
The local authority recently welcomed nine new trainees through its modern apprenticeship programme, bringing its total number of apprentices to 25 – working across trades including painting and decorating, joinery, and plumbing.
By developing its in-house team, the local authority said it 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 at the City of Edinburgh Council, commented, “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.”
