Our apprenticeships offer customers a great way to gain valuable experience and make a valuable contribution to Karbon Homes.
Over the last year, we’ve taken on seven new apprentices of a variety of ages and backgrounds - from those who are just starting out in work, to those who have been trying to get back into work after a break or those wanting to re-train and pursue a new career, the programme offers something for everyone.
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with all our current apprentices to find out how they’re getting on in their new roles.
Our Customer Relationship Apprentices Julie Law from Blaydon and Debra Dann from Jarrow have both been able to pursue new career opportunities with their roles.
Julie was a hairdresser before she decided to change her career path:
“I’m 52 and wanted to try something different before I retire. The apprenticeship was perfect for me. My skillset was very particular. I was really lacking current skills so this has been really helpful.
“There’s been loads of support from my team leader, Lynsey. We go to college every fortnight where we’re encouraged to use PowerPoint and Excel which I didn’t know how to use previously.
“It’s opened a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had without it. I’m not sure I could have been taken seriously in such a different role without the apprenticeship.”
Debra is a mum of two who used to work for Hays Travel in their accounts department:
“After Covid I thought ‘Life’s too short’ and I should just go for it.
“I love it. Karbon are hands down the best company I’ve worked for. I’ve really enjoyed learning about the social housing side of things, repairs, income and working with the general public.
“I definitely want to keep working with Karbon and would be interested in a role as a support worker or in the finance team or carrying on in the customer relationship team.”
Kayleigh Armstrong from Longbenton joined us as an Apprentice Joiner:
“I worked in Iceland and Greggs but they weren’t for me. I like to be busy and the joiner apprenticeship really appealed to me.
“I’ve always been quite handy with building things so I thought I should try to make a career out of it. The apprenticeship gives me the chance to get the actual experience and qualifications I need to be able to do this as a career.
“I really enjoy it. I actually like coming to work.”
Jack Scales from Consett has taken on a role as an Apprentice Electrician:
“Learning and getting paid to do it rather than going to college for five days a week is the best way to learn a trade.
“I’m getting loads of experience, learning how to do loads of different things and gaining more confidence when working in customers’ homes.
“It’s the best I’ve felt in a while. I’m learning things that will go towards my future career.”
Jay Brennan from Chester-le-Street and Toni Major from South Stanley both started as Apprentice Joiners in August.
Both have had very different career journeys but have found that the apprenticeships are suitable for anyone.
Jay said:
“I decided to get into joinery because my grandfather was a joiner himself, seeing him working around the house got me into it.
“I was working with Brendan from the Foundations for Life team during the application process. He helped me a lot with my CV, with the interview, even with how I was going to get to the interview on the day. It was really easy, smooth sailing, there were no hiccups or bumps.
“Getting the apprenticeship gave me a massive boost in my confidence. I was starting to steer away from joinery because I was going so long without getting any work. Getting the job here and working with the team has boosted my confidence so much it made me realise that joinery is what I’m set out to do.”
Toni is a mother of two who took a different approach to her career path:
“I focused on my family first, I’ve raised two children who are now 14 and 11. Now that they’re old enough I wanted to take this time to focus on developing my own career.
“I think it shows the kids that you can do anything you want, you just need to put the work in.
“I love it. Best thing I’ve ever done.”
Ollie Brotherston from Dipton has been working as an Apprentice Heating Engineer. Ollie had previously been working in a pub until he spotted the apprenticeship positions at Karbon:
“I’d heard really positive things about the place and it seemed like a good place to work for.
“It’s been very smooth. The application process was really easy. I felt welcomed when I came in for the interview.
“It’s great. I can’t say a bad thing about Karbon or the job. I get up and I want to go to work, I actually enjoy the job.”
Ollie’s manager, Darren Newbould believes that apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity both for customers and our teams:
“It’s an opportunity for an apprentice to learn an amazing trade and to strengthen our teams.
“An apprenticeship is a structured approach. It gives you the training and the qualifications you require. If anyone is looking at apprenticeships in any part of the sector, I would really encourage it. It’s an alternative to going to college, you get the support of the infrastructure around you to gain the experience and continued professional develop and you get a qualification at the end.”
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2024 is the 17th annual celebration of apprenticeships.
The week brings together everyone passionate about apprenticeships to celebrate the value, benefit and opportunity that they bring.
You can find out more about apprenticeships at Karbon Homes by visiting the careers section of our website.
Our apprenticeships offer customers a great way to gain valuable experience and make a valuable contribution to Karbon Homes.
Over the last year, we’ve taken on seven new apprentices of a variety of ages and backgrounds - from those who are just starting out in work, to those who have been trying to get back into work after a break or those wanting to re-train and pursue a new career, the programme offers something for everyone.
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with all our current apprentices to find out how they’re getting on in their new roles.
Our Customer Relationship Apprentices Julie Law from Blaydon and Debra Dann from Jarrow have both been able to pursue new career opportunities with their roles.
Julie was a hairdresser before she decided to change her career path:
“I’m 52 and wanted to try something different before I retire. The apprenticeship was perfect for me. My skillset was very particular. I was really lacking current skills so this has been really helpful.
“There’s been loads of support from my team leader, Lynsey. We go to college every fortnight where we’re encouraged to use PowerPoint and Excel which I didn’t know how to use previously.
“It’s opened a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had without it. I’m not sure I could have been taken seriously in such a different role without the apprenticeship.”
Debra is a mum of two who used to work for Hays Travel in their accounts department:
“After Covid I thought ‘Life’s too short’ and I should just go for it.
“I love it. Karbon are hands down the best company I’ve worked for. I’ve really enjoyed learning about the social housing side of things, repairs, income and working with the general public.
“I definitely want to keep working with Karbon and would be interested in a role as a support worker or in the finance team or carrying on in the customer relationship team.”
Kayleigh Armstrong from Longbenton joined us as an Apprentice Joiner:
“I worked in Iceland and Greggs but they weren’t for me. I like to be busy and the joiner apprenticeship really appealed to me.
“I’ve always been quite handy with building things so I thought I should try to make a career out of it. The apprenticeship gives me the chance to get the actual experience and qualifications I need to be able to do this as a career.
“I really enjoy it. I actually like coming to work.”
Jack Scales from Consett has taken on a role as an Apprentice Electrician:
“Learning and getting paid to do it rather than going to college for five days a week is the best way to learn a trade.
“I’m getting loads of experience, learning how to do loads of different things and gaining more confidence when working in customers’ homes.
“It’s the best I’ve felt in a while. I’m learning things that will go towards my future career.”
Jay Brennan from Chester-le-Street and Toni Major from South Stanley both started as Apprentice Joiners in August.
Both have had very different career journeys but have found that the apprenticeships are suitable for anyone.
Jay said:
“I decided to get into joinery because my grandfather was a joiner himself, seeing him working around the house got me into it.
“I was working with Brendan from the Foundations for Life team during the application process. He helped me a lot with my CV, with the interview, even with how I was going to get to the interview on the day. It was really easy, smooth sailing, there were no hiccups or bumps.
“Getting the apprenticeship gave me a massive boost in my confidence. I was starting to steer away from joinery because I was going so long without getting any work. Getting the job here and working with the team has boosted my confidence so much it made me realise that joinery is what I’m set out to do.”
Toni is a mother of two who took a different approach to her career path:
“I focused on my family first, I’ve raised two children who are now 14 and 11. Now that they’re old enough I wanted to take this time to focus on developing my own career.
“I think it shows the kids that you can do anything you want, you just need to put the work in.
“I love it. Best thing I’ve ever done.”
Ollie Brotherston from Dipton has been working as an Apprentice Heating Engineer. Ollie had previously been working in a pub until he spotted the apprenticeship positions at Karbon:
“I’d heard really positive things about the place and it seemed like a good place to work for.
“It’s been very smooth. The application process was really easy. I felt welcomed when I came in for the interview.
“It’s great. I can’t say a bad thing about Karbon or the job. I get up and I want to go to work, I actually enjoy the job.”
Ollie’s manager, Darren Newbould believes that apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity both for customers and our teams:
“It’s an opportunity for an apprentice to learn an amazing trade and to strengthen our teams.
“An apprenticeship is a structured approach. It gives you the training and the qualifications you require. If anyone is looking at apprenticeships in any part of the sector, I would really encourage it. It’s an alternative to going to college, you get the support of the infrastructure around you to gain the experience and continued professional develop and you get a qualification at the end.”
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2024 is the 17th annual celebration of apprenticeships.
The week brings together everyone passionate about apprenticeships to celebrate the value, benefit and opportunity that they bring.
You can find out more about apprenticeships at Karbon Homes by visiting the careers section of our website.
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