Ms Campbell attended the meeting to share the Scottish Government’s vision for housing up to 2040 and hear from board members about Wheatley’s strategy for the next five years.

The young people, who are among the first intake on Wheatley’s Ignite programme for graduates, were invited to share their experiences of working in housing since they joined the Group in September.

Eilidh Morrison, a graduate working as a housing officer with Cube which is part of Wheatley, said: “When I joined, I was new to housing and wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Working as a housing officer, I can make a real difference in my tenants’ lives. I also have a mentor on the programme who supports me along the way.”

Peter Osborne, a business graduate, added: “As part of the sustainability team I have been able to work on a range of projects across the organisation. The programme has given me the opportunity to use my degree in a practical way. It is a really exciting time to be working in housing and it was great to speak with the Cabinet Secretary as the Government launches their housing to 2040 vision.”

Aileen Campbell MSP said: “Our ambition is for everyone in Scotland to have high quality, energy-efficient homes that are affordable and that meet their needs.

“It is encouraging and inspiring to see more talented young people entering a career in the housing sector. Their views and ideas bring a fresh perspective as we develop our new vision for how our homes and communities should look and feel by 2040. Their enthusiasm and drive will be an essential part of making sure we can achieve this vision for Scotland.”

The event took place in Wheatley Group’s Academy in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

Wheatley’s graduate programme was founded last year with 20 people, a mix of external graduates and young people already working in Wheatley, being recruited on to it. They work across the organisation in the housing teams, corporate support services, and the repairs and investment team with support, learning opportunities and mentoring provided.

The two-year programme is part of Ignite, Wheatley’s wider staff learning and development approach and is believed to be the biggest graduate training programme of its kind in Scotland.

Wheatley will be recruiting more graduates later this year. To find out more, visit the website.