THREE North Staffordshire housing associations have joined forces to create six new apprenticeships.

Young people will be able to gain skills and qualifications to work in the social housing sector through the positions offered by Aspire Housing, Epic Housing and Staffordshire Housing Association.

PM Training, a social enterprise which tackles unemployment among young people, and is part of the Aspire Group, will deliver the programme.

It is one of only a handful of providers in the West Midlands able to offer the training framework.

Three customer service recruits will be selected from the 16 to 18 age group, and another three will be chosen from the 19 to 24 bracket for training as housing officers.

The apprenticeships are open to anyone in those categories and the recruitment process will start this month.

Will Nixon, chief executive of PM Training and director of regeneration at Aspire Housing, said: "This type of apprenticeship really is unique.

"It will benefit not only the six young people who are selected, but also the three housing associations.

"We are very keen to highlight housing as a career path because it doesn't have the profile it should.

"Many jobs within the social housing sector are rewarding and help make a positive impact on people's lives and the communities they live and work in.

"This training will ensure that they emerge with a detailed understanding of the housing sector."

Each of the apprentices will complete placements with the three housing associations.

Neal Hopkins, Epic Housing's head of business development, said: "Housing is a career that people tend to land in, rather than aspire to, and we plan to change that.

"It can be difficult to attract people of the right calibre into the sector, but we believe that by taking this route we can lead people to the qualifications they will need.

"If they complete their apprenticeships successfully, they will emerge with an accredited qualification, and although we can't guarantee it, the intention is that there should be a job waiting for them."

Part of the training will be office-based, but the recruits may also deal with problems from anti-social behaviour and rent arrears, to neighbour disputes.

Diane Lea, chief executive of Staffordshire Housing Association, added: "We are already supporting a range of apprenticeships and traineeships to improve opportunities for local people.

"We are delighted to expand this."