UK Training Industry Press Releases

Festival Housing Group (FHG), the West Midlands-based housing association, has won a UK Housing Award - in the ‘Developing Skills and Capacity' category - for helping selected Year 10 and 11 pupils at Droitwich Spa High School to develop skills, and gain nationally recognised qualifications in, property maintenance. Known as the ‘Skills for Life project', it began as a management training opportunity for FHG staff but has gone on to create an imaginative link with Droitwich Spa High School which provides employment and training opportunities in property maintenance for Year 10 and 11 pupils at the school.

These students learn a range of property maintenance skills as part of their curriculum and their two year course includes one day a week working with FHG. Moreover, FHG has agreed to take on at least one of the current pupils as a full apprentice when he leaves school.

Guided by coach Nicole Wehden from the organisation development consultancy Echelon, FHG - which prides itself on ‘building successful communities' across Herefordshire and Worcestershire - initially got the pupils to spend one day a week with FHG's maintenance company. This not only provided them with the practical skills and experience in such things as plumbing and electrics but also enabled_bool them to have those skills recognised via City & Guilds qualifications.

Clare Huyton, FHG's executive director, said: "We are delighted to have this project recognised on a national stage.