FIRST EVER GOVERNMENT APPRENTICESHIP IN HOUSING AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LAUNCHES AT RENDALL AND RITTNER

Leading property management company, Rendall and Rittner led the launch of the first ever Government Apprenticeship in Housing and Property Management on Monday 27^th March. Fourteen apprentices, met at Rendall and Rittner’s head office in Aldgate to begin their training and were joined by partners from a collaboration group combining Catch22, the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). Other companies and their apprentices including those from Waltham Estates also attended the event.

Since the Government’s pledge last year to create three million apprenticeships by 2020, many industries and sectors seized the opportunity to become ‘Trailblazer’ employers. Rendall and Rittner championed apprenticeships through the Trailblazer scheme and formed the collaboration group. Fourteen apprentices were selected, of which seven will work with Rendall and Rittner across a number of departments. Two apprentices on the pilot scheme have joined the scheme while already working for Rendall and Rittner as onsite members of staff.

Matt Rittner, Founding Director who joined Elaine Higgins, Rendall and Rittner’s HR Business Partner, in welcoming the apprentices on board, comments: “Today marked the launch of the first apprenticeship scheme of its kind in housing and property management, proving how important this part of the industry is for the future of property developments. We were delighted to be able to gather all partners and our apprentices together, to fully launch the project and get them settled into a six-week online training programme. We are excited to have been successful in finding the right calibre of apprentices, who we are sure will go on to have a significant impact on the future of this sector – we wish them the best of luck in their new roles.”

The five new apprentices, who have customer service and administrative backgrounds with John Lewis, Waitrose, solicitors, estate agents and other retail companies will begin the scheme by accompanying assistant property managers, visiting sites and working with them to learn fully about the intricate processes and procedures of property management. The two existing onsite staff work for prestigious developments in West London and Manchester and joined the scheme to increase their property management skills. They will all learn about how to get the best from a working relationship with landlords, tenants and resident management companies.

Asi Panditharatna, Managing Director of Catch22 Apprenticeships and Employability adds: “We are delighted to be getting the apprenticeship trailblazer underway and thrilled to be working with such committed employers and partners. We are also grateful to Rendall and Rittner for supporting this pilot.  We have a unique partnership with the Institute of Residential Property Management and the Chartered Institute of Housing and encourage other employers in the sector to work with us to ensure their staff benefit from this incredible apprenticeship.”

Rendall and Rittner along with Catch22, accredited assessment body CIH and housing industry membership company, IRPM, have worked closely together to form the new 18-month Pilot Scheme. The apprentices will have their journey and progress tracked to ensure compliance against the Standard and Assessment Plan. They will gain vital knowledge in general law, leasehold finance, land and built environment and customer service in the property industry. The scheme will also include four workplace assessments every six months and finish with a project based submission and a panel interview via the assessment gateway through CIH.

Vanessa Howells, Head of Professional Services at CIH, adds: “This is an important landmark for the new housing and property management apprenticeships and as the professional body and assessment organisation we’re delighted to be involved.

“The new apprenticeships represent a significant opportunity for organisations to bring fresh talent into the sector and make sure professionals have the skills they need to thrive.

“It is great to see and organisation like Rendall & Rittner taking a lead on this and we hope this is just the start for the sector.”

In future, the collaboration will aim to launch Levels 2 and 4 in Housing & Property Management to the wider public and private sectors thereafter. Rendall and Rittner and its partners are urging others in the Housing and Property Management industry to sign up by emailing Catch22.