The Guinness Partnership celebrates success of Mansfield apprentice
To mark National Apprentice Week (9-15 Feb) The Guinness Partnership, one of England’s largest housing associations, is celebrating its apprenticeship programme and the value apprentices bring to local communities.
This year is the 19th annual National Apprenticeship Week, coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service. This week-long celebration across England, is a time to recognise and applaud apprenticeship success stories across the country.
Debra Tetley from Mansfield, has been an Independent Living Advisor apprentice with Guinness since 2023 and is doing a CIH Level 3 apprenticeship in Housing and Property Management. Debra carries out a variety of tasks, including attending resident meetings, supporting residents with their tenancies, ensuring health and safety compliance.
As well as workplace training with Guinness, Debra also completes course work and is assessed on her progress by training provider, Kingdom Academy.
The Guinness Partnership has invested in apprenticeships for several years, covering a variety of roles from office-based roles in HR and finance to resident-facing roles and trades. Guinness also offers apprenticeships to help colleagues gain relevant technical or professional qualifications. Over the last 12 months, 37 colleagues have completed an apprenticeship supported by Guinness.
Commenting on her career choice, Debra said: “ I love interacting with other learners on my CIH Level 3 programme, supporting each other and sharing our experience of working with different housing providers. An apprenticeship is challenging, but in a good way and I would say to anybody thinking of going into an apprenticeship - do it now!
Sasha Theophanous, Learning & Development Manager at The Guinness Partnership said: “Providing apprenticeship opportunities is a key way of promoting skills development and increasing diversity across the housing, trades and construction sectors.
“We are extremely proud of Debra and the progress she has made with her apprenticeship course. She is an inspiration to anyone considering a professional career.”
Our apprenticeships in figures
- 95 apprentices are working across Guinness including roles in sustainability, accountancy as well as horticulture (Estates) and various trades roles.
- 61 colleagues are using the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy to upskill themselves in their current roles.
- 26 colleagues have enrolled onto an apprenticeship programme via the Levy since April 2025.