West Midlands Housing Association, Nehemiah UCHA has appointed two new Property Services Trainee Surveyors and one Housing Services Trainee. Mohi Kazi and Jordon Fearon will work closely with the Property Services Manager as part of their graduate two-year internship programme, and Rakpinder Basra will work alongside the Housing Operations Manager to complete the internships which have been made possible through the Nehemiah UCHA Academy.

The Nehemiah UCHA Academy and Charitable Aid Foundation (CAF) was set up in 2013 and offers a range of work placements, internships, educational opportunities and financial aid packages for tenants and local people across the West Midlands who are looking to improve their career prospects.

As part of their new role as Property Services Trainees, Mohi and Jordon will ensure all maintenance services are provided on both a routine and responsive basis and that properties are kept at the highest possible standard.  Rakpinder will be engaging with customers on a range of issues, from handling property lettings through to negotiating repayment plans, as well as listening and responding to customers’ everyday needs.

Nehemiah UCHA Chief Executive Llewellyn Graham, says: “We recognise that in the current economic climate, which has impacted negatively on the UK’s employment rates, young people are especially vulnerable, due to their lack of on the job experience and specific skills required by employers.  Through the Nehemiah UCHA Academy which we set up in 2013 to help local young people with training, work experience and funding for college and university courses we have in 2015 been able to offer three internships to Mohi, Jordon and Rakpinder.”

Before joining Nehemiah UCHA Rakpinder completed a degree in Psychology combined with Public Policy Management and then later went on to do a masters in Organisational Behaviour part time, at Aston University.

Rakpinder Basra comments: “Nehemiah UCHA is a fantastic local company with its roots based here in the West Midlands. Everybody who I have met who works for the company appears to be very warm, helpful and hardworking which has allowed me to settle in easily. What I love about working with Nehemiah UCHA is that I am able to make a real difference to the local community; I am able to interact face to face with customers and get to meet lots of wonderful different people. My role as a Housing Services Trainee allows me to be out in the community with our customers and help people with real issues that they face in day to day life. No two days have been the same since I started! I believe this opportunity has provided me with a platform to progress and embark on a long career in Housing, and I am very thankful for this.”

“After I completed my Business Management Degree, I joined Bullock Construction in a Trainee Site Management role. I helped deliver the Decent Homes programme for Wolverhampton Homes, overseeing the refurbishment of the council’s properties. While I was there I got to know a bit more about the construction side of the job.  Working at Nehemiah UCHA has given me another great opportunity and I like that no two days are the same. My work isn’t restricted to the office and I get to go out and meet new people.” Says Jordon Fearon

“Prior to joining Nehemiah UCHA I was studying for a part time degree in Building Surveying at Wolverhampton University so it is great to learn the practical side of the business as well as studying the theory. The most enjoyable parts of my job at Nehemiah UCHA has been the variety of tasks that I have been given responsibility for. Also being part of a small organisation has given me the opportunity to be more involved in all sections of property services.” Mohi Kazi

For more information on the Nehemiah UCHA Academy and the availability for both work placements and graduate internships contact Nehemiah UCHA academy@nehemiah-ucha-co-uk or call 0121 358 0966. Full details can be found at the organisation’s website at www.nehemiah-ucha.co.uk