The government set the decent homes standard to improve living conditions for local authority and housing association tenants by the end of this year – and Peabody’s decent programme is on course to meet the December deadline.
But the programme is also making a difference to job creation. Peabody has been working with contractor Wates – and previously Connaught – to create apprenticeship opportunities.
Jamie Read and Maggie Fuller approached Peabody at a jobs fair in East London and applied to join our apprenticeship scheme with Wates. Jamie, 23, had previously been a maintenance assistant and worked for Sainsbury's, and he applied for the apprenticeship because of his interest in decorating. Maggie, 35, had worked in the restaurant sector before going back to college. She applied to join the scheme as a carpenter.
Jamie Read and Maggie Fuller have both completed their apprenticeships
The two have now achieved NVQ Level 3 in their chosen trades, and they’ve both won a number of construction awards including Wates Apprentice of Year. On the decent homes programme, Jamie and Maggie worked on Peabody's estates at Chelsea Gardens, Fulham, Old Pye Street and Nags Head.
They’ve both completed their apprenticeships and now they’re setting up their own business, J&M Interiors. Their stated aim is to give excellent customer service in decorating and carpentry – and they’d like to expand their business to offer a larger range of refurbishment services. Having achieved a great deal through their own apprenticeships, they say they’re keen to bring apprentices of their own on board in the future.
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