Ninety young people from some of Scotland’s most deprived communities are being given the chance to kick-start their career through new apprenticeships.

Wheatley Group and City Building launched the double recruitment drive ahead of plans to form a joint venture next month.

Wheatley is looking for 30 new Modern Apprentices from its communities while City Building is taking on 60 trades apprentices.

Both schemes are part-funded by the Wheatley Foundation, a charitable trust set up to help people in Wheatley’s communities have better lives, and by Glasgow Guarantee, Glasgow City Council’s wage incentive scheme.

Wheatley’s two-year apprenticeships give youngsters the chance to take the first steps in a rewarding career in housing and business support. The successful candidates, who do not need any formal qualifications, will work across Wheatley’s partners organisations including GHA, Cube, Loretto Housing, YourPlace and West Lothian Housing Partnership, while studying for an SVQ qualification.

City Building’s apprentices, which will include joiners, plumbers, electricians, plasterers, painters and decorators, heating and lift engineers, will get a four-year programme and work towards an SVQ level 3 craft qualification.

Both sets of apprentices will get a generous benefits package and help to find a full-time job when the programmes finish.

Shannon McGreechin, 19, from Shettleston in Glasgow, started her apprenticeship at a GHA’s housing office in August 2015 before moving to YourPlace, where she landed a full-time job as a Factoring Agent.

She said: “My family encouraged me to look at the apprenticeship scheme. I really enjoy dealing with customers and helping to make a difference.

“An apprenticeship is a great opportunity. It’s a great chance to gain qualifications and get experience of different parts of the company.

“It has also helped me find what I’m best at and decide what sort of job I want to do. It’s really helped me get started on my career.”

Bruce Taylor, 22, from Darnley in Glasgow, started his joinery and carpentry apprenticeship at City Building in 2012. He is now a timeout tradesperson currently working in the refurbishment of GHA’s Winget properties in the east end of the city.

He said: “I have enjoyed my time out as a tradesperson I enjoy the challenge and pressures of working independently and making my own decisions as well as working alongside another tradesperson as part of a team.”

The new opportunities for young people come as Wheatley prepares to become a 50-50 joint owner and partner in City Building Glasgow, the council’s wholly-owned subsidiary. As well as delivering a £33 million a year repairs service for Wheatley, the JV will be responsible for GHA’s annual capital investment programme and the city council’s own repairs.

Since Wheatley’s Modern Apprenticeship programme started in 2009, the Group has taken on 282 apprentices.

Young people can apply for Wheatley Modern Apprenticeships by emailing their name, address and date of birth to ma@wheatley-group.com by Monday 24 April.

Applications to City Building can be made via www.glasgow.mappit.org.uk.