Meet the Apprenticeship Employer – Phoenix Community Housing

Who are you?

I work for Phoenix Community Housing as a HR Business Partner. Phoenix manages just over 6,000 homes in the south of Lewisham and are now building new homes to helptackle the housing crisis.

We were created in 2007 by tenants for tenants, and we’re one of only a handful of resident-led housing associations in the UK. Our rules say that our Chair and Vice Chair of our Board must always be tenants, and residents are the largest group on our Board. That really defines who we are and how we operate.

As one of Lewisham’s largest employers, we’re proud to be accredited as an Investors in People Gold organisation.

Why have you decided to become an apprenticeship employer?

We’ve offered dozens of apprenticeships to Lewisham residents over the years. Apprentices bring fresh energy and creativity to our organisation and really make a positive difference among our staff.

At a time when we know that Covid-19 is having a real impact on the livelihoods of Lewisham residents, it’s more important than ever that we do all we can to offer these kind of opportunities to support more people into employment.

What apprenticeships are you offering?

We’re currently offering five apprenticeships and it’s quite a mix of roles. Two of the apprentices will be out and about with estate services staff. The other roles are in asset management, procurement and in our financial inclusion team.

How can someone progress after the apprenticeship is over?

Many of our previous apprentices have gone on to work for Phoenix (including Marvey Emmanuel pictured), and others have used this as a springboard into the world of work. We know from our former apprentices how much they valued their time with us and felt it was great preparation for their future careers.

What attracted you to work with Lewisham Council and the Mayor’s Apprenticeship Programme?

We’re proud to be a partner in the Lewisham Deal. One of our key aims is to work with the community and partners in the borough to improve the circumstances for everyone living in our area and for future generations. The apprenticeship scheme is one of the ways we can reach out and offer opportunities to Lewisham residents to develop new skills that will help them in their future lives. 

What would you expect from the ideal apprentice?

We value the energy and enthusiasm of our apprentices, as well as a real desire to learn new skills and gain confidence. We’re after good communicators who can demonstrate our values of community, customer, consideration and collaboration, and who realise that we can only be truly effective when residents, staff and the wider community have a shared vision and work in partnership.

If that sounds like you, then please find out more about Lewisham Apprenticeships and apply for one of our roles! 

If you are a business or organisation then you can also find out more about the support available to help you become an apprenticeship employer.