Melissa Doxey, from Stretton, takes board member back to the floor to celebrate National Apprentice WeekA TEENAGE apprentice has spent a day showing one of Trent & Dove Housing’s non executive directors the ropes, demonstrating what it takes to do her job.
David Price, vice chairman of Trent & Dove housing board, went back to the floor shadowing Willmott Dixon apprentice Melissa Doxey, from Stretton, in her daily activities, getting to grips with some plumbing and joinery work in the company’s empty properties around Burton.
Mr Price helped the 18-year-old in carrying out repairs and maintenance jobs such as fitting a new sink base unit and a new work top, to help prepare the homes for new tenants.
Mr Price said: “I jumped at the opportunity to shadow an apprentice for the day. I’m aware of the great work that the company has been doing in Burton, and I’m very much in favour of the apprenticeship scheme and will be following the apprentices’ progress.
“In order for me to govern effectively, I feel that it is important for me to get on site and know what the realities on the ground are. I’m not averse to going into the unknown and I looked at this as an opportunity to learn more about how things work. I can now look at the apprenticeship scheme and the work that Willmott Dixon apprentices are doing with completely fresh eyes.”
It was part of a nationwide campaign by Willmott Dixon Partnerships to raise awareness of National Apprentice Week, which celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals and businesses.
Melissa, who is a multi-trade skill apprentice, studying plumbing and joinery, at Willmott Dixon Partnerships said: “I could see that he was really interested in the work we do. I tried to show him all the things that I would have to deal with on a daily basis, to help him understand how hands-on my apprenticeship training really is.”
Willmott Dixon Partnerships is working with Trent & Dove Housing repairing and maintain 5,200 homes in East Staffordshire.
