WDH is committed to recruiting and developing young people from the Wakefield district. Our award-winning apprenticeship programme is just one of the schemes we run that helps us do this - ensuring we have a workforce that will meet the organisation's needs both now and in the future.
As part of our apprenticeship programme you will receive up to four years of training as well as the opportunity to learn on the job at one of the UK’s largest housing associations.
Each year we recruit apprentices to meet business demand.
An overview of the roles offered this year are:
Electricians install cables and equipment including sockets and switches for electrical installations. They test and commission electrical installations to ensure they work and meet the health and safety requirements. The work is safety critical and you will need to learn how to implement statutory requirements.
Gas Engineers specialise in the installation and repair of gas appliances including, central heating boilers and systems, cookers, fires and water heaters. The work is safety critical and you will need to learn how to implement statutory requirements such as the gas safety regulations.
Heating and Ventilation engineers install and maintain building services equipment including heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The work you will be required to do is safety critical and you will need to learn how to work to statutory regulations.
Plumbers install, service and maintain a variety of plumbing systems and equipment. This includes systems for cold and hot water as well as fitting pipe-work to baths, sinks, central heating boilers and water pumps.
Placements are available in a number of service areas in administrative and customer service roles. Completing the Business and Administration Standard you will support the wider team to deliver a range of services.
Kieran Tighe is a 20-year-old from South Kirkby. He joined WDH in 2015 as an apprentice plumber.
Before starting his apprenticeship he worked at a Next warehouse and studied a level 2 qualification in plumbing at the Castleford campus of Wakefield College. Kieran heard about our apprenticeship scheme after seeing a post on Facebook.
Kieran said: "I will be a fully qualified plumber at the end of my apprenticeship but I also have the opportunity to earn an additional gas safe qualification. This will help my career opportunities at the end of my apprenticeship. I would highly recommend an apprenticeship to anyone as it has really helped build up my confidence and brought me out of my shell."
Whitney Hatto is 22 years old and from Pontefract.
Before joining WDH she studied for her A-Levels at New College, Pontefract. She learnt about WDH’s apprenticeships through her brother who was an apprentice joiner. He told her that WDH also offered office-based apprenticeships.
Whitney completed her apprenticeship and is now a Debt Officer at WDH. Her apprenticeship has supported her to progress her career.
Whitney said: “I think that an apprenticeship will benefit anyone, no matter what their age, and it will also give them a lot of opportunities in different areas of the business.
Liam Haylett is a 20-year-old from Castleford. He is currently in his final year on an IT apprenticeship with WDH.
Before beginning his apprenticeship, Liam completed a Level 3 BTEC in IT at New College, Pontefract. He had heard about WDH’s apprenticeship scheme through friends, and seen adverts in the local newspaper.
Liam said: "Thanks to my apprenticeship I have been successful in my quest to gain confidence in IT and what I do. It has also given me valuable experience of the workplace."
Beth Lewis is a 19-year-old from Castleford.
She applied for her office-based apprenticeship while she was studying for her GCSEs at Castleford Academy after seeing the vacancy advertised in the careers section at her school.
Beth was successful in becoming an Modern Office Apprentice in which she worked in different areas of the business gaining administrative skills whilst completing her qualifications in housing and business administration.
Beth said: "My apprenticeship has opened up good opportunities for me. Completing my apprenticeship gave me the confidence to apply for further roles at WDH, and I am now working as an Involvement Officer in the Engagement Team.
It also gave me the foundation to apply for other opportunities that WDH has to offer, such as the Leadership Extended Achievement Programme programme and the Community Leadership Programme."
Lewis Marley is an 18-year-old from South Kirkby. He joined WDH in August 2015 as an apprentice joiner.
Lewis had started the apprenticeship after finishing school at Minsthorpe Community College. He had always wanted to do a joinery apprenticeship to follow in his dad’s and grandad’s foot steps.
Lewis chose to apply for an apprenticeship with WDH after attending the apprentice fairs where he had spoken to WDH and found out what they was about. He had heard good reviews about WDH and also did research on the website to find out what the organisation does.
Lewis says: "If you are applying for an apprenticeship with WDH make sure that you fill in your application as much as possible, with relevant skills, knowledge and experience and do research on WDH to help you when applying."
Stacey Simmons is a 19-year-old from South Elmsall. She joined WDH in August 2016 as an apprentice plumber.
Stacey had applied for the apprenticeship in 2015 but was unsuccessful. She applied to Barnsley college to do a qualification in plumbing whilst working full time to get experience for when she applied for the apprenticeship with WDH in 2016.
Stacey was taught plumbing in school and she knew that’s what she wanted to do as a career. She likes to be hands on and with plumbing, there is different work to be carried out everyday.
Stacey said: "Don’t give in. If you know what you want to do in your career but you don’t get it the first time, just keep trying. Listen to feedback and think about how you can better yourself and improve. WDH is the best company to do an apprenticeship with, even better than I thought."
Billy Brown is a 17-year-old from Normanton. He joined WDH in August 2015 as an apprentice electrician.
Billy had started the apprenticeship after finishing school at St Wilfrids High School. Billy wanted to be an electrician because it is a specialist trade. There are a lot of opportunity for him to use his head to solve problems which is something he really enjoyed and was a key part in his decision to do this as an apprenticeship.
Billy decided to do an apprenticeship with WDH because he is able to carry out more practical work and learn more by doing something and in a real situation. Billy goes to college one a day a week as part of his apprenticeship which he really enjoys.
Billy said: "You need to make sure you are looking in to all the options before making a decision. You don’t want to start an apprenticeship doing something that isn't right for you. WDH is a secure company and give you a lot of opportunity."
Tom Yates is a 20-year-old from Barnsley. He joined WDH in August 2015 as an apprentice gas engineer.
Before applying for the apprenticeship, Tom had previously completed 2 year at Barnsley College doing a plumbing course. He first became interest in this trade when he did a 3 week work experience whilst at school. In school holidays he volunteered at Meah’s to get experience working with boilers and he really enjoyed that as there was a wide variety of work involved.
Tom said: “If you are interested in an apprenticeship with WDH, just go for it, you have nothing to lose. Make sure you put as much information on your CV as you can and sell yourself!”
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