Progress Futures | Holly's story
Over the last couple of months, 12 new apprentices working in our Property Services Team have been settling into their new roles.
Read how our Progress Futures Team has supported one of our tenants, Holly, into getting one of our apprenticeship roles.
Holly is 18 years old and lives with her mum in a Progress property in Penwortham, Lancashire.
While re-sitting her Maths and English GCSEs and completing a Level 1 plastering course at Preston College, Holly referred herself to Progress Futures for help and support in looking for and securing a plastering apprenticeship.
Holly was assigned a Progress Futures mentor, Cathy, and right from the very first appointment with Cathy, Holly was clear about what she wanted to do on completion of the plastering course she was doing. She told Cathy she loved plastering and wanted to pursue it as a career, putting all that she had learned at college into practice, whilst also earning a wage.
Over the next few months Holly and Cathy met regularly at Holly’s home on her non-college days and put an action plan together. Holly did not have a CV, so with Cathy’s support, they created a CV that Holly could use when applying for apprenticeships. Cathy also showed Holly which sites to use when searching for an apprenticeship.
After a few months of working together, Cathy informed Holly that 12 trades apprenticeships were going to be advertised at Progress Housing Group, within the Property Services Team.
Two of those apprenticeships were going to be for plasterers. Holly was really excited to apply, so when the roles were advertised, Cathy supported Holly with her application and supporting statement.
The Group received hundreds of applications for the 12 trades roles. A couple of weeks later, Holly received an email inviting her to an assessment and interview day. She was really pleased but also extremely nervous, as this would be her first professional interview.
In her appointments prior to the assessment and interview day, Holly and Cathy completed several mock interviews, to try and give Holly a feel for what it would be like to be interviewed.
Holly attended the assessment and interview day and although she was nervous, she told Cathy that she felt she had done her best.
On Friday, 4 July, Holly rang Cathy to say that all their hard work and efforts had paid off and she had been offered one of the plastering apprenticeships with Progress!
Holly started her apprenticeship on 8 September, and says she is pleased that Cathy will continue to support her throughout the duration of the apprenticeship.
Welcome to the Group, and lots of good luck in your apprenticeship, Holly!