A key driver of that strategy was an investment in repairs and maintenance for the future of the Association’s stock and that vital service to tenants.

A key part of that strategy is getting the right workforce in place and succession planning for the future. This has resulted in AHFA budgeting for five apprentice posts for young people during this financial year in addition to two apprentices already recruited.

This team of seven will cover the trades of plumbing, builder-work, joiner-work, and gas engineering linked to air-source heat pumps and solar panels. These blue-collar apprentices fit in with ACHA’s modern apprentice strategy, which has also brought through 6 modern apprentices in office-based roles in each of the Association’s departments. The final piece of the jigsaw was the recruitment of a graduate trainee.

Alastair MacGregor, ACHA’s chief executive, said: “Over the last year and the coming year the ACHA Group, which includes ACHA the parent and AHFA our repairs subsidiary, have been active in recruiting young people into the business. It is absolutely vital in these challenging times that we invest for the future.

“The association has also committed to retaining Argyll and Bute’s young people and doing our bit to stop outward migration, and to keep our young people and offer them good career opportunities.”

He added: “Housing offers a variety of career opportunities from, in ACHA’s case, chimney-sweeps to care-workers, and a suite of opportunities in between. The Association’s commitment to attending school Jobs Fairs throughout Argyll and Bute is starting to deliver in terms of young people’s interest in housing as a career