The UK Housing Minister John Healey has called on housing associations to do better.

He said they need to "raise their game" and do more to create new apprenticeship opportunities and help people get on the housing ladder and stay in their homes during the downturn.

He confirmed that any housing association bidding for a share of the £7.5bn available for affordable housing will for the first time now be required to offer apprenticeship and local job opportunities.

This is set to create 1,500 apprenticeship places over the next two years, on top of the 1,300 places expected through the Prime Minister's £1.5bn Housing Pledge - which could take the total of new apprenticeship places to nearly 3,000 over the next two years.

Many housing associations and private house-builders already have apprenticeship and local recruitment schemes in place - but these steps will for the first time ensure that all organisations bidding for Government cash do so.

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Mr Healey also called on housing associations to do more to fulfil their social role during the downturn, and help more of those struggling to pay their mortgages to stay in their homes by going through the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.

Between April and June this year, 605 households applied to sell and rent back their homes through the Government's Mortgage Rescue Scheme - but only 46 received an offer from a registered social landlord.

Mr Healey said: "We're using the power of Government action and public investment to build homes, create jobs and support the construction industry at a time when others can't. Despite the recession, our action means an extra 55,000 new affordable homes will still be built this year alone.

"I want to make sure we get the most for every taxpayer's pound. That's why for the first time, housing associations bidding for Government cash will now be required to offer apprenticeships and local jobs, which could create 1,500 valuable opportunities to give young people the skills and start to their career they deserve.

"We're using the power of Government procurement to create local jobs and a stronger skills base for the future.

"But I also want to see housing associations raise their game, and do more to ensure families facing the immediate threat of repossession get the help they need to stay in their homes through the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.

"That's why I am ready to raise the grant rates to help them do this - but in return I want to see more struggling homeowners getting the help they need through the scheme quicker," he said.

(CD/BMcC)