Trades Team Build Facility For Hands-on Staff Training
Members of the NPH Trades team have created an onsite purpose-built training room for staff to learn new skills in a practical environment and stay up-to-date with newer fixtures and fittings.
Billy (Senior Trade Operative) came up with the original idea supported by Carl (Electrical Qualifying Supervisor) and Steve (Senior Trade Operative). They could see that many of the household components (such as door mechanisms and plumbing) used across NPH properties were changing. The training room has been built in an under-used storage facility next to our main office in Northampton.
Trade colleagues now have the opportunity to build confidence with new components before heading out to residents’ homes. Billy explained how “It allows operatives to try out a new trade, helping to broaden their experience, upskill them for the future and support their personal development within the business. We have some extremely talented tradespeople, and this area was created so we can all share knowledge, skills and best practice with one another.”
Staff from across the organisation are making use of the space, including new trades recruits, apprentices and established staff. The facility has a number of different training areas built in situ including doors, so staff can practice fitting and lock replacement, a kitchen sink to practice fitting new taps, windows of various types and a wall of live electrical devices to practice safe installation.
Winston Williams, the Director of Property and Deputy CEO at NPH, was happy to champion the project: “I’m incredibly proud to support the creation of this training room, developed with outstanding dedication and expertise by our own staff. It reflects our commitment to investing in their skills, confidence and professional growth, ensuring they are equipped to deliver the highest standards of service to NPH tenants, safely and efficiently.”
Billy is appreciative of all the help he was given: “It’s been a real team effort from start to finish, with colleagues from across the organisation bringing their skills, ideas, and enthusiasm, enthusiastically backed by Managers and Directors.
This is only the beginning. The team is already exploring ways to enhance and expand the training room, ensuring it keeps pace with the changing needs of our properties, becoming a central hub for learning, innovation and cross‑team collaboration. This aligns with the NPH objective to provide homes that are safe, sustainable and high quality.
A video has been produced by our Comms Team which explains how colleagues can make use of the new Training Centre straight away:
