At Vico Homes, we believe that building confident communities starts with investing in people.
Our award-winning apprenticeship programme is one of the ways we do just that. By offering people the opportunity to earn, learn, and grow in a supportive, hands-on environment, we’re building the workforce of the future.
For nearly 20 years, we’ve supported over 200 apprentices, with 95% going on to secure permanent employment with us. Open to anyone aged 16 and over, our programme offers a chance to start a career in a growing sector, with no training fees and the opportunity to earn over £20,000 in your second year.
We caught up with some of our current apprentices to hear how they have been finding their experience with us so far.
A supportive start to a lasting career
Our apprentices often tell us how much they value the friendly, team-focused culture on site. Alfie Kirk, 18, Apprentice Plasterer, said: “My dad works here and when I was looking what I wanted to do he said an apprenticeship would be a good thing to look into. He’s been here 20 years in all.
“It’s been really good so far, the team is really friendly and there’s always someone around who can lend a hand if you need it. It’s never too much trouble when you ask for help which I’d been worried about before I started.
“There is loads of support for us so it’s been great really. You can’t go wrong as long as you have a go, if ask questions when you need to, you can’t really get into trouble. I’m getting to learn a lot on the job and I’m really hoping in the long term I’ll be able to stay here with Vico Homes and make a career of it.”
Mentorship that makes a difference
Every apprentice is paired with a mentor who helps guide their development. Nathan Whatton, 20, Apprentice Plasterer, said:
“I’d spoken to a mate of mine who had been an apprentice with Vico Homes before and he’d said it had been good so I decided to give it a go.
“Everyone on site is a good craic but they’re also there to help you at the end of the day. We’ve got a mentor each and they look at all the work you do and help you improve and develop.
“I was looking for an active job and plastering seemed like a good way to get that. I’m hoping the two-year apprenticeship will put me in a good position to get a job here when I’m done and I can keep on developing and improving.”
Teamwork and belonging
Apprentice Joiner, Dan Proctor, 20, joined after hearing positive feedback from a former apprentice:
“I knew someone who’d been an apprentice here, so I spoke to them about what it was like and it seemed like a good opportunity from what they said.
“For me it is all about being on site and being involved which makes it a good place to be. The weeks at college are good to take a bit of a step away too, you can get some practice in and work on things you think you need help developing there.
“It’s important to me to be working in a team that supports and motivates each other. The team and the mentors are helping me work towards getting the skills I need for a successful career.”
Room to grow and thrive
Harry Berry, 18, apprentice joiner, joined us looking for a place to develop: “When I was thinking about what I wanted to do as a career I was looking for somewhere I could develop my skills.
“It’s been everything I thought it would be so far which is good. I’ve had the opportunity to learn new things and actually do them on site which helps me a lot.
“I’m just hoping that I can keep improving with the team here and get a role at Vico Homes when this comes to an end.”
A Site Manager’s view
Ryan Roper, Site Manager, sees the impact of the programme every day. He said: “Watching these apprentices grow in confidence and skill over the course of their time with us is one of the most rewarding parts of my role. They bring energy, curiosity, and a real willingness to learn.
“The success of the programme is down to the commitment of the whole team; everyone plays a part in helping them succeed. It’s been brilliant to see so many of our apprentices go on to secure permanent roles with us and I’m looking forward to seeing our current cohort do just the same.”
Interested in starting your career with Vico Homes?
Our apprenticeships are open to anyone aged 16 and over. Whether you're just starting out or looking to retrain, this is your chance to earn, learn, and build a future in a supportive, growing industry.
We’ll be recruiting for our next cohort of apprentices early in 2026 – keep your eyes peeled!