RENDALL & RITTNER SIGNS UP FIVE NEW HOUSING AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT APPRENTICES AS PART OF NEW PILOT

Leading property management company, Rendall & Rittner has signed up five aspiring apprentices for its pilot group of the first ever Government Apprenticeship in Housing and Property Management. The apprentices visited the office on Thursday 9^th March to see their head office and meet with directors for National Apprenticeship Week.

Since the Governments pledge last year to create three million apprenticeships by 2020, many industries and sectors across the economy seized the opportunity to become ‘Trailblazer’ employers, offering young people an apprenticeship that is practical, relevant and paid. Rendall & Rittner championed apprenticeships through the Trailblazer scheme and formed a collaboration group combining Catch22, the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH).

After a selection process and a set of interviews, four apprentices have now been employed for the London area and one for the company’s Northern division, who will be based in Manchester. The apprentices, who have customer service and administrative backgrounds with John Lewis, Waitrose, solicitors, estate agents and other retail companies will begin work with Rendall & Rittner later this month.

Elaine Higgins, Rendall & Rittner’s HR Business Partner who was recently honoured a fellowship from the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) for her dedication to the industry, said: “We conducted a series of interviews and we are really excited that we have been successful in finding the right calibre of apprentices. Catch22 put forward some really great applicants and understood our requirements for enthusiasm, customer service understanding and potential. We look forward to welcoming them on to our apprenticeship pilot and six-week training sessions and to seeing them prosper and to grow within Rendall and Rittner.”

The five apprentices, whittled down from over 40 applicants, will study towards the new Level 3 Apprenticeship Scheme in Housing & Property management in line with the Government’s Apprenticeship Trailblazer Standard and are urging others in the Housing and Property Management industry to sign up via Catch22 at [email protected]

Apprentices will gain vital knowledge in general law, leasehold finance, land and built environment and customer service in the property environment. 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.

The apprentices will work at Rendall & Rittner’s Manchester and London head offices and study together as part of the wider pilot group with other participating companies who have already joined this cohort.

Apprentice Raima Begum, 19, who was formerly a customer support assistant at John Lewis comments: “I have wanted to work in the property industry for some time and I felt that this apprenticeship scheme would allow me to concentrate on my long-term career goals. To find out that I have been selected to work for Rendall & Rittner is overwhelming. It seems like such a great place to work and I am excited to learn while working.”

Richard Daver, Managing Director at Rendall & Rittner adds: “The housing and property management industry will benefit hugely from the launch of this Level 3 apprenticeship Pilot Scheme. It’s vital that young people are offered alternative and effective ways of learning industry standard practices, while earning and gaining a qualification. We are very excited to have selected a new wave of young talent.”

Rendall & 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. Apprentices will learn using a web based electronic portfolio and e-learning material. Ongoing support will be provided via information, advice and guidance, pastoral support, coaching and additional English and Mathematics support (if required) to enable candidates to successfully complete the scheme.