Providing excellent training for all - Meet Ben and Luke

During 2019 Anchor Hanover welcomed four young people with autistic spectrum conditions and other learning disabilities into our Housing Finance, Cash and Banking and Income departments on internships. These internships, delivered in partnership with Shipley College and Lighthouse Futures Trust, aimed help young people into employment by providing high-quality employability training and valuable work experience.

We are delighted that two of the interns have now been offered permanent roles with the organisation. Ben Parkes and Luke Dent are now Trainee Assistant Accountants in Anchor Hanover’s Housing Operations Management Accounts and Income Team respectively. 

Jaimie Dorward, Finance Partnering Manager, was heavily involved in organising the original placements and said; “Ben and Luke showed dedication, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn to new things throughout their internship commitment, so were stand out choices for their trainee roles”.

The internship

The interns spent a full academic year working alongside Anchor Hanover colleagues to gain high-quality employability training and valuable work experience. There were also two Job Coaches based on site to ensure the interns wellbeing was looked after and to support them as they settled in. After their first few weeks one of the Job Coaches said she could already see a massive increase in their confidence levels:

“At the beginning, the interns found even simple tasks such as logging into their computers very daunting and were afraid of making mistakes. A few weeks in they are now getting through the work they’re given quickly and gained the confidence to ask questions if they are unsure. They are really growing in self-esteem too and feeling proud when they complete tasks or are able to use the problem-solving strategies they’ve learned.”

This programme shows our commitment as an employer to ensuring we aspire to adapt our recruitment methods to ensuring diversity in our team, we should all take pride in its success - particularly those colleagues who took on the role of ‘buddies’ for our interns.

Meet Ben and Luke

Ben and Luke’s internships were a great success and each have taken time to answer some quick questions for us.

Say hello to Luke Dent

Why are you excited to be working for Anchor Hanover?
The reason I am excited is because I will be part of a good team, I also enjoy the work which I have been doing as I’m helping people. I’m also excited to meet new people make new friends.

What are you looking forward to most?
I am looking forward to taking my first step into work life. I’m looking forward to earning my own money and taking responsibility in helping with the bills.

What have you been up to in lockdown?
I have played both board games and computer games with my mum and her partner. I have also watched films on Netflix and Disney. I have walked every day for exercise. I celebrated my 20th birthday whilst in lockdown. I had meetings and quizzes on Google Meet with college and Lighthouse Futures Trust. I have enjoyed talking to my neighbour over the fence as she lives alone.

What have you missed during lockdown?
I have missed going to college and work, spending time with my family and friends. I have missed watching live sports on TV, also playing football on a Thursday with my brother and his friends. I have missed walking the dogs with my friends and having friends round. I also miss the small things like going shopping with my mum and bumping into people and having a chat.

Say hello to Ben Parkes

Why are you excited to be working for Anchor Hanover?
It will be nice to get back to working at Anchor Hanover because the people are nice to be around and I enjoy working here.

What are you looking forward to most?
I am looking forward to the challenges that it will bring and continuing to develop new skills. I am also excited to be more independent in myself. I am looking forward to the end of lockdown so that we can get things back to normal.

What have you been up to in lockdown?
In lockdown there were a few things I have done, I help Mum run a hedgehog rescue so we are renovating the garage so that she can move the hedgehogs into it and I am also making a lounge/office to work from home.

What have you missed during lockdown?
During lockdown I have missed going out to see friends the most.