Livv Housing Group is one of the largest apprenticeship providers in Knowsley, Merseyside. This National Apprenticeship Week (5-11 February), the housing association proudly highlights the success of Ellie Moss who proved that hard work and seizing opportunities can pave the way for a successful career.
Ellie Moss, 25, from Huyton, embarked on her journey with Livv in July 2021 as part of the government’s Kickstart Scheme. Having initially pursued a career in childcare after finishing school, Ellie decided to rethink her career path when the pandemic hit.
Stumbling across Livv’s Kickstart programme at a local careers fair, Ellie was drawn to the opportunity despite having no knowledge of the social housing sector. Ellie recalls: “I knew that joining the scheme could open doors to opportunities if I worked hard and made the most of it.
“After hearing about all the different areas at Livv, I chose to join Assets because it’s one of the largest in the business and covers a wide variety of teams in data, systems, empty homes, legal and compliance. I thought if I give this a try, I’ll hopefully be able to find something that I enjoy.”
Ellie’s eagerness to learn and grow shone through, making an impact on the team immediately. Within just two months of her six-month placement, Ellie was encouraged to apply for a full-time apprenticeship within the Assets Team, which she secured. She also worked towards her Level 3 Chartered Institute of Housing qualification.
Ellie continued: “I was so happy to become an Assets Apprentice and to be able to pick up where I left off. The apprenticeship allowed me to delve deeper into the different teams. I spent time within the Systems and Property Access teams but for most of the time I was with Legal, focusing on Section 11 cases.”
Finding a genuine interest in the legal side of the business, Ellie’s role involved investigating disrepair claims and resolving issues before they reached court. Making a difference daily, Ellie was given full training on the Section 11 systems – the first apprentice to be provided this.
As her apprenticeship was coming to an end in March 2023, Ellie set her sights on the future; a future she only saw at Livv. She said: “I knew that I wanted to stay at Livv. It’s a fantastic place to work, the people are brilliant, and I continue to learn so much every day. When the Systems Assistant position came up and I applied straight away. I was lucky enough to get the job, taking me back to where I first started [in the Systems team] at the beginning of my apprenticeship.”
Following nine months in her role, Ellie was successful in securing the position of Legal Administrator in January this year.
Reflecting on her journey, Ellie concluded: “I loved my apprenticeship and am so grateful for the opportunities it’s led to. I enjoyed the legal side the most so to have now got this job in the Legal Team – I feel like I’ve come full circle.
“I joined Livv as a Kickstart, where I was unsure of what I was really signing up for. The end goal was to carve a path for my career, and I think I’ve managed to do that, even exceeding my own expectations.”
A testament to her story, Ellie Moss was shortlisted in the ‘Outstanding achievements by apprentices’ category at the Housing Heroes Awards 2023.
Sharon Marsh, Executive Director of Customer Insight at Livv Housing Group, said: “Ellie has been on an incredible journey both personally and professionally. She’s become an invaluable member of the team and by investing in her, believing in her and trusting her, her development is one that can only inspire future generations.
“We’re really proud of our apprenticeship programme and the success stories it continues to deliver year on year. For us, it is about real skills for life, but also real-life skills. National Apprenticeship Week is a fantastic opportunity to showcase this.”
Over the past 10 years, Livv Housing Group, headquartered in Prescot, has helped around 200 young people kickstart their careers.
Ring-fenced for 16-24 year olds living in the Knowsley borough, Livv’s apprenticeship programmes span a range of areas including marketing, facilities management, finance, joinery, plumbing, homes sales and business intelligence.
For more information about Livv Housing Group visit www.livvhousinggroup.com or to find out more about its apprenticeship scheme contact Amanda.Manning@livvhousinggroup.com