This week is National Apprenticeship Week now in its 13th year and it's a great opportunity to find out more about this practical and exciting route into employment.

Bringing the whole apprenticeship community together, this week celebrates the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.

Business meetings, open days, celebration events and parents evenings are all being held in workplaces, schools and training provider's premises around the country. For the first time, this year National Apprenticeship Week includes weekend activities, with employers opening their doors to young people and their parents at open day events. And for employers, like us at Ringley, it's a chance for us to tell you more about what we're doing to help young people get into the property industry. We have been supporting apprenticeships for years now. It's a great way to train our own staff while at the same time bringing young people into employment and allowing them to get a taste of the property business at the sharp end.

A win-win all round example

One great success story from our own business is Leana, who started off at Ringley as an intern in February 2018. She did so well and was such a great fit with our Proptech team that we offered her a full-time job. We are now sponsoring Leana's Masters degree in Real Estate as well as her APC qualification to become a chartered surveyor. So Leana gets a really good start in the property industry and we get a highly qualified and committed member of staff. That's got to be a win-win all round.

Our support to all the apprentices and interns

We have apprentices and interns coming to us throughout the year; some do marketing, some do data-related jobs. We spend time explaining why they are doing what they are doing, so they understand the bigger picture and can see where they fit into everything we do as professional property managers. Some are still at school and come to us for a few hours weekly. We try and inspire them and perhaps help them choose a career path We also take on apprentices from outside the UK, who come here for several months to gain experience and get to grips with British culture and life in a foreign city. We like to think we help prepare them for the world of work. Some come back more than once and some, like Leana, stay on permanently.

Today, from 2pm there will be a #AskAnApprentice Q&A on Twitter. So if you or someone in your family is interested in an apprenticeship, now is your chance to find out more. And if you think you'd like to work with us at Ringley, give us a call. You never know, it could be the start of a whole new career.