Apprenticeships with property firm could be foundation for bright career

HELPING new tenants find a home in some of the area’s most impressive property conversions is just one exciting task for the right apprentice.

Nottingham-headquartered property developer, ALB Group, is on the lookout for two people to fill property administrator and business administration apprenticeships with the company.

The award-winning firm behind schemes such as the conversion of Carlton Police Station into 66 apartments, and a similar transformation of Ilkeston’s former Co-op, is keen to give the right candidate a helping hand onto the career ladder.

The roles are the latest in a long line of apprenticeships with ALB over the last nine years, which have resulted in many taking on full-time employment.

The apprenticeships are being offered via Zip Management, a property management arm of ALB, and Base Lettings, a lettings subsidiary of the group, via training providers CT Skills and Nottingham College.

The property administrator role will involve completing the Housing/Property Management Apprenticeship Level 3, and the candidate will experience time in each different office within the business, receiving work experience in lettings, block management, property development and sales. 

For the right person, there is the opportunity to secure full time employment and progress to higher level qualifications.

Via the Base Lettings role, the successful candidate would be helping with the applications for the lettings of the apartments at the former Carlton Police Station development, which was named Residential Development Nottinghamshire in the UK Property Awards 2021, or site visits at Osmaston Road Business Park in Derby and Lombard House in Newark.

Last year, the number of people starting apprenticeships dropped by 19 per cent, amid concerns over a lack of training and skills development opportunities for young people during Covid.

But ALB Group is bucking the trend, and providing the foundations for a prosperous career in property.

ALB Group, which was named Developer of the Year at the 2020 East Midlands Business Link Bricks Awards, has offered permanent roles to many of the apprentices that have completed their apprenticeship over the years. 

Crystal Johnson started a business administration apprenticeship with ALB in 2015 and was offered a permanent role of admin assistant the following year. 

Since 2016, Crystal has continued to progress and is now ALB Group’s real estate portfolio manager.

Base Lettings has employed Rebecca Guy as an apprentice since May 2020 and she is nearing the end of her apprenticeship. She will be offered a permanent role of lettings negotiator upon completion.

Arran Bailey, ALB managing director, said: “I have always been supportive of apprenticeships, as I feel this is the best way to learn and get a real hands-on and practical experience in a workplace environment. 

“This is the kind of experience that employers look for when hiring new staff so it is a great skill to have for your future, rather than just a qualification alone.”

Joe Carruthers, business development manager at CT Skills, said: “ALB group has been instrumental in offering apprenticeships to local young people within the community. 

“CT Skills and ALB group have been working in partnership to support young people to gain valuable employment and development through the apprenticeship programme.”