National Apprenticeship Week: How training has been key to Antonella's career

Antonella is a member of our Universal Credit team, helping our tenants with their finances and making sure they are able to claim the benefits they’re entitled to.

To mark National Apprenticeship Week, she told us how traineeships have proved integral to her career so far.

“I started with Tai Tarian back in 2012 on an initial six month training placement.  I joined the financial inclusion team, working with tenants experiencing financial hardships and helping them prepare for the introduction of the bedroom tax.

After my six months ended, I applied for a Business Support Assistant role with the organisation, which saw me work across different departments and get a taste of what each one did.  I worked with the tenancy support, financial inclusion, tenant empowerment and anti-social behaviour teams.

With all this experience under my belt, I knew I wanted to build a career in housing, so started studying for the relevant qualifications.  I undertook a level 2 qualification in customer services and a level 3 in housing.  I also furthered myself by taking part in a Drivers for Change programme which ended up with me publicly speaking at the House of Lords!!!

A chance to learn more and further my career then came about when I applied for Tai Tarian’s Housing Trainee programme.  The programme allowed me to gain even more experience across different housing departments, such as the applications, lettings, income and arrears teams.  The traineeship also included undertaking a level four qualification in housing, ensuring I had the sound theoretical knowledge to complement the practical experience I had built up.

My traineeship ended in September 2020 and I came full-circle, securing a job back where it all started, back in the financial inclusion team, as a Universal Credit Officer.

Furthering myself through training has been instrumental in helping me develop my career.  I would urge anyone looking for a challenge and interested in completing a housing qualification to give it a go.  Through continued learning and the support Tai Tarian has given me, I have been able to embark on a rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable career.”