10 Nov 2009

Five young people celebrated starting trade apprenticeships with Lakehouse on Friday 6th November. All of the apprentices are local people who have been taken on to work on Camden Council's Decent Homes programme, which has already seen 2,000 properties benefit from kitchen and bathroom improvements.

The apprentices have all completed an initial training course at King's Cross Construction Skills Centre, where they achieved the CSCS qualification required to allow them to work on site. Daniel Slowey, 24, said "I've worked as a carpenter before. Now I'm doing plumbing, tiling and plastering to learn the rest of the skills. There are a lot more jobs going if you've got all the skills."

Councillor Chris Naylor, Camden's Executive Member for Homes and Housing Strategy, said "It's fantastic that not only is the work to bring properties up to the decent homes standard improving residents' lives, but it is also creating wonderful employment and training opportunities for the borough's young people. I'm thrilled with the progress we're making and proud that young people like these apprentices are helping us to make a positive difference to residents' lives."

Lakehouse has recently been awarded the prestigious Diversity in Business Award at the second annual North and West London Business Awards. The company was congratulated for its ability to form close ties with the local community to ensure recruitment of skilled resources from a variety of backgrounds, such as the new apprentices.