Young adult completes first year of apprenticeship with Aster Group

Young adults across the south are being given the opportunity to develop a career in the housing industry thanks to ethical developer and landlord, Aster Group.

James Patterson, 17, has completed his first year into his apprenticeship with the Andover based company in its mechanical and electrical team.

Whilst on placement James is learning every aspect of electrical work, from night storage heater upgrades, cyclical testing and inspections, to smoke detector selection and installation and boiler controls.

Alongside his apprenticeship James attends Basingstoke College of Technology one day a week to gain his Level three electrical installation qualification.

His apprenticeship comes to an end on 30 August 2019 and by then he would have benefited from three years’ experience and gained his qualification.  

Of his experience, James said: “Aster is a well-known company in Andover with years of experience so I wanted to take the opportunity to work with them.

“I’m really enjoying the experience so far and I’m learning something new every day. I’m still enjoying the sense of achievement I get when I complete a job.

“Apprenticeships are so important. They give people like me the chance to gain qualifications whilst learning on the job.”

Rachel Broome, learning and development director at Aster said: “Bringing in a new generation of skills is an important part of nurturing and retaining talent in the sector and is something we will continue to do as part of our commitment under the Aster Foundation to give something back to our local communities.”

Aster employs 1,300 people and has one of its main offices in Andover. It builds over 1,000 new homes every year and has provided apprenticeships for thirteen young people over the past year.

Through the Aster Foundation, a programme of non-core work the Group choses to do  to benefit society, it also supports local charitable initiatives though match funding and volunteering days and improves the financial and digital skills of its customers by providing free training and advice.