Ethos Public Relations Manchester

North West ALMOs develops unique Internship

by Ethos public relations

ALMO Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) is hosting an internship with other North West ALMOs in association with Manchester University’s Graduate Intern Programme. The two year programme for four students will provide a unique training experience allowing access to different projects, disciplines and organisations.

Clare Tostevin, Head of New Business & Regeneration for RBH said: “After the success of an RBH internship in 2009 we were keen to develop something more formal that involved our colleagues across Greater Manchester.

“There is a pool of graduate talent across the region and the scheme looked for the best people to nurture and develop as future leaders in housing and regeneration.”

With budget cuts and the forthcoming spending review many social housing providers are not recruiting staff but even before the current crisis Clare says that housing providers were struggling to recruit the right people.

“It’s been our experience that a committed intern brings a refreshing new approach to the business,” said Clare. “However, in order to benefit both parties the programme must be properly structured and interns must be mentored and supported.”

As host for the scheme RBH will provide each intern with a mentor and support shared learning across the ALMOs involved.  Recruitment was carried out via Manchester University’s career service. The paid internship also includes the opportunity for post graduate study at Salford University’s Blended Learning Course in Housing, Regeneration and Sustainability.

Clare adds: “Because this internship offers the opportunity to work across different organisations as well as further study and qualifications it was vital we selected the right people. The successful recruits had to demonstrate an interest in housing and regeneration either via specific modules as part of their degree or through practical work experience.”

Supporting place making is at the core of the internship which will include projects such as developing new neighbourhood investment models, tackling worklessness and supporting innovations in new build design and retrofit.

Clare says more businesses in the sector should look at developing intern programmes. “The private sector has long recognised that internships add real value to an organisation and this scheme demonstrates how the social housing sector is now catching up.”

“Recent figures suggest there are 100,000 well qualified young people not in education, employment or training and 40,000 of these have a degree level qualification which is another reason why it is so important to develop our future workforce.”

The four interns are Abbie Booth, Sarah Taylor, Carl Monk and Matthew Corry who between them graduated at Manchester, Salford and Oldham.

Posted at 22^nd September 2010