Liverpool housing repairs and maintenance business HMS is seeking applications for 30 new apprentice roles. Tony McDonough reports
Housing repairs and maintenance business HMS is to take on 30 new apprentices in September and is looking for applications. It seeks trainee electricians, heating engineers, plumbers, plasterers and joiners.
There are also office roles such as scheduling and surveying at HMS which is owned by Liverpool-based affordable housing provider Torus but operates as a standalone business generating annual revenues of £100m.
In January LBN reported Torus had launched its biggest-ever repairs and maintenance framework worth £1.2bn. Torus has awarded a £450m slice of this framework to HMS, which it acquired in 2019.
HMS has taken on more than 100 apprentices since joining Torus with a number of them becoming fully qualified this year. Managing director Paul Worthington said: “There is a clear skills gap in the construction industry.
“I believe apprenticeships are the best way to proactively address the shortfall of qualified tradespeople we have across the sector.
“Apprenticeships not only offer a sustainable, long-term training and employment opportunity for individuals, they positively contribute to the local economy by upskilling its communities and keeping sought-after trades in the local area.
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“For HMS, Apprenticeships are a long-term investment, and a number of our current managers and leaders, including myself, began their career as an apprentice, so I know that this can be an important and career-defining first step for many.
As part of the Torus Group, HMS apprentices’ benefit from support and guidance from the Torus Foundation, which includes support with interviews and writing CVs, applying for a CSCS Card and driving lessons.