Riverside is unlocking the world of career opportunities in housing…

Carol Matthews, our Chief Executive, shares her own views on the value and importance of apprenticeships.

My own career began as a Housing Officer with Sheffield City Council. 

This was a very happy accident as I applied for the job with two purposes in mind, firstly to pass time before my PHD began a year later and the opportunity to spend time away from Glasgow and home.  I, like many people today, had no idea about the width and range of opportunities that there are in the housing sector.

Throughout my own career I’ve a passion for developing, coaching and mentoring those working with me. So I’m thrilled that we’re launching our exciting #IN2Riverside apprenticeship programme and are giving that opportunity to the people in the communities we work.

We have colleagues who work in our offices, housing repairs and on the frontline dealing with customers who have come through the apprenticeship route, and they have found that housing is a sector that has far more to offer than they may have first thought. It’s more than that though. It’s a vibrant, challenging and rewarding sector with lots of opportunity to provide services which positively change our customer lives. We really have the opportunity to transform lives and revitalise our neighbourhoods, and as you can see from feedback from Riverside colleagues it is truly rewarding work too:

Kate “I can’t imagine working in any other sector now as I really feel fulfilled by the work that I do.”

Karren “I can honestly say there is no better opportunity to truly invest in yourself while being supported in your job, so this is a win: win to me as I’ve never been happier.”

Our apprentices, and those supported through the apprenticeship levy, are our future. Finding a career and industry they are passionate about and valuing the work we do to support our customers and communities.

Our new #IN2 apprenticeship programme is just one of commitments for the future, to attract and develop talented people from our communities. We believe it is important to give people, regardless of age or experience, the right start to their career and we are looking to recruit a record breaking 10 apprentices by the summer. Our apprenticeship vacancies are across five different business areas including finance, neighbourhood housing, IT, administration and asset management.

I am so proud of the support and opportunities we are able to offer and I look forward to meeting our new recruits later in the year.

Find more information here about our offer and the closing date for applications is Sunday 28 April 2019.