The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) supports the local construction workforce in Addlestone, Surrey as National Apprentice Week 2013 gets underway this week.

National Apprenticeship Week is in its sixth year. It's championed by the National Apprenticeship Service and the week aims to showcase and celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on businesses and individuals.

Carole Hardick, Strategy Manager for the HCA in the east and south east said: "Part of what we do is encourage house developers we work with, for example through our Affordable Homes Programme, to deliver a range of training opportunities, including apprenticeships, to help more young people into construction work."

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Just one of the ways developers of affordable homes are helping with this is through Notting Hill Housing Trust's Construction Training Initiative (CTI). Set up in 1995 it supports trainees through college to achieve a level 2/3 trade qualification, and provide sufficient work experience to allow them to become employed after two to three years with the initiative.

The homes at Franklands Drive fulfil a huge need for affordable housing in the Runnymede borough by utilising a large plot of disused land to provide a mix of 350, rented and shared owned flats and houses. A number of apprentices have been working on the scheme from CTI covering a variety of core trades from carpentry to plastering.

(CD)