THE importance of attracting young people into the Borders housing sector was stressed at an open day hosted by the region's largest social landlord, writes Andrew Keddie.
With a maintenance division workforce of 90, including 13 on modern apprenticeships, the Scottish Borders Housing Association was praised for its commitment to training and staff development by Danny Logue, operators director of Skills Development Sc
otland.
“I am impressed by SBHA’s track record in ‘growing its own’ and pleasantly surprised so many of the workforce have gained professional qualifications which carrying out their day to day jobs,” said Mr Logue.
The boss of the national training and careers organisation was commenting after he addressed an awareness session for 27 senior business management students from Hawick High School at SBHA’s newly-opened offices at West Port in the town.
Mr Logue encouraged the youngsters to look beyond the current downturn in employment and be prepared for the increased job opportunities which, he said, would arise as soon as the economy picks up.
He and the students also met some of the 13 trades apprentices currently being supported, with the guarantee of a full-time job, by SBHA to become fully-qualified joiners, plasterers, electricians, roofers, painters and decorators and plumbers/gas fitters.
Their skills are harnessed on SBHA’s planned maintenance programme, worth around £7million a year, along with the £3million running repair programme for its 6,000 houses.
SBHA is also in the early stages of a £9million transformation of Stonefield estate in Hawick. Built in the 1970s, the flatted blocks were in a poor state of disrepair and many stood empty by the time they were transferred from Scottish Borders Council six years ago.
The investment will go on major renovations, demolitions and new builds at the estate with completion planned for 2014.
SBHA chairman Oliver Angus said neither gender nor age were impediments to SBHA’s recruitment of apprentices.
He cited the success of young Victoria Riva, who was progressing well in the second year of her training as a plasterer, and Sean McGaughey, capped at rugby for Scotland in 1984, who had just qualified as a roofer with the association’s maintenance division SBBS.
