Unlocking Career Paths: Milton Keynes College and NHBC Empower Local Youth with High-Value Internships

Building Careers for Local Young People

Six students from Milton Keynes College have successfully completed their internships at the NHBC headquarters in Knowlhill, gaining hands-on experience across various aspects of the business. This marks the second year of a fruitful partnership with NHBC, the UK's largest provider of new home warranty and insurance.

Last year, several participants from the 16-19 age group secured fixed-term or full-time jobs with the company, highlighting the program's effectiveness in bridging education and employment.

Gary Seymour-Griffiths, Work Placement Co-ordinator at the College, emphasized the program's prestige: "It's a really successful and prestigious programme for our students to be involved with. There are opportunities in Finance, Customer Services, Human Resources, and Operations, and the young people involved are doing Business A Level or Construction T Level, so what they're learning is completely relevant to their education."

NHBC ensures a supportive environment, providing proper pay significantly above the required level for their age and offering a comprehensive grounding in the business.

The selection process was rigorous, involving interviews at the college and with the company. Interns had the chance to go on-site with NHBC Building Inspectors, handle customer calls directly, and work on independent projects.

Linda Elberts, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Business Partner at NHBC, praised the candidates: "The quality of candidates was even better than last year, which they hadn't thought possible. The candidates gave our interviewers a difficult job in choosing who to take, and they did themselves and MK College proud."

A special event was held earlier this month to celebrate the students' achievements, where NHBC CEO Steve Wood presented completion certificates. Linda added, "As a local employer, NHBC is proud to partner with Milton Keynes College to provide the next generation with the skills and support they need to succeed in the workplace. NHBC employs more than 1,300 talented and dedicated people and has many recruitment opportunities."