Celebrating our apprentices

National Apprenticeship Week, which takes place from Monday 9 February – Sunday 15 February is a national celebration of the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, organisations, and the wider economy. This year’s theme, Skills for Life, encourages employers to highlight how apprentices help to fill skills gaps, support business growth, and bring fresh talent into organisations.  

We take pride in giving local residents a chance to develop their skills and we offer apprenticeships in: 

• Administration
• Procurement
• Quantity surveying
• Stores / stock control
• Electrical
• Bricklaying
• Joinery
• Plumbing
• Gas engineering 

Both office-based and Craft apprentices get to experience a range of activities, complete a recognised qualification and help us to make a difference in Barnsley.  

Our Community Refurbishment Scheme (CRS) is a great example of this by providing hands-on training and real employment experience for apprentices while improving our estates. 

What is the Community Refurbishment Scheme? 

CRS is an apprentice training programme focused on improvement works across our communities. Throughout 2025/26, three full-time apprentices made a big impact by helping us to complete 15 improvement projects across Athersley South. This included new boundary walls, fencing, installing block paved driveways, and pedestrian and vehicle gates. We’re supporting the apprentices to complete an 18-month groundworks qualification, while also giving 20+ Barnsley College Diploma students site experience.  

Visit our YouTube channel to hear from our CRS apprentices! 

Why CRS matters? 

The Community Refurbishment Scheme shows how investing in skills and investing in our estates go hand in hand. Apprentices gain meaningful experience, tenants benefit from estate improvements, and the wider community is strengthened through long term skill development, contributing to the Learning Barnsley ambitions of Barnsley 2030.

Luke Oliver, Assets Capital Projects Manager, said: “The Community Refurbishment Scheme is a great project that helps to deliver much needed improvements to the local community around Athersley South. We also do works on community buildings and other areas to tidy and improve communal areas. It’s a great way to give work experience and potential apprenticeship places to local young people through Barnsley College, giving them a great insight into the working world.”