New apprentices join the SARH team

In its 10th anniversary year, Stafford’s largest landlord has further demonstrated its commitment to the future by taking on two new apprentices.

Dani Dean, 17, and Kayleigh Cooper, 18, are now working at the administrative heart of Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) whilst studying for NVQ Level 2 qualifications.

They join 8 other apprentices currently working at the housing association, which has now taken on around 30 young people on similar programmes over the past decade.

Karen Armitage, SARH Chief Executive, explained: “Providing opportunities for young people in the area that we serve is one of our guiding principles. As one of Stafford’s major employers we have seen this investment in the future pay off and many of our apprentices have gone on to play a significant role in our ongoing success.

“I’m sure both Dani and Kayleigh will follow in their footsteps and start to build rewarding careers here at SARH.”

A former pupil of King Edward VI High School, Kayleigh studied beauty and hairdressing at Stafford College before deciding that she really wanted an office-based career.

“I had done business studies at school and, after trying something different at college, I decided that I really wanted to work in an office,” explained Kayleigh, who lives in Gnosall and is studying for a Level 2 NVQ in Business Administration alongside her work in ‘The Hub’, a central service for the housing association’s administration support.

Fellow Business Administration Apprentice Dani, from Stafford, says she was really keen on gaining valuable experience and earning a wage whilst studying for a qualification.

“I’ve always wanted to work in an office and thought about going to college but the SARH apprenticeship offered the best of both worlds, earning and learning!” she said.

Both Dani and Kayleigh say that they both enjoy the wide variety of work in The Hub, which brings them into contact with people from many different departments within the organisation.