ONE of East Anglia’s largest providers of affordable housing is launching a recruitment drive, including a new apprenticeship scheme.

Orwell Housing Association, which manages around 3,000 mixed tenure properties across Suffolk, north Essex, Cambridge and Norfolk, is creating a dedicated repairs arm, Orwell Repairs Services.

The launch involves new jobs in management, repairs and administration, with an apprenticeship scheme for 16- to 25-year-olds also being created.

The move follows a consultation with the association’s tenants over the past year to discover how best to improve the housing repair service offered.

“Our repairs service is a huge part of our business and as the service is most valued by our tenants we wanted to improve the way in which it was delivered,” said Stephen Javes, chief executive at Orwell Housing Association.

“By the creation of these new posts we are confident that we will be able to offer a service that is second to none, offering a dedicated appointment system six days a week and good quality workmanship which will be delivered by local people.”

He added: “As a local housing association we are committed to investing in our local community and providing employment and training opportunities to young people who are quite often excluded from the job market due to lack of experience or qualifications.”

The apprenticeships, in areas including painting, administration and multi-skilled repairs, will run for three years.

The association is aiming to have their new repairs service in place by May.

It is not disclosing the exact number of new jobs and apprenticeships at this stage, but details of the opportunities will appear in the Jobs24 section of the East Anglian Daily Times tomorrow.