Why Choose Novus – our 2026 Apprentice intake

Why apprenticeships have been part of our business for eight decades

As we embark on our 2026 recruitment drive to bring more apprentices into our business, we’re exploring the role apprenticeships have played in our business over the years – and in the broader industry.

Property maintenance, refurbishment and retrofit have always been built around people. Whether we’re maintaining homes to support decarbonisation efforts, refurbishing hotels to improve experiences and long-term asset value, or upgrading healthcare facilities to elevate vital services, people are central to it all.

At one end of the scale, we’re talking about tenants, customers and the broader communities that buildings serve and bring together. At the other end, we’re talking about the professionals behind the upgrades – the ones who navigate the challenges of live environments to get every job done right.

Apprenticeships are crucial here, providing accessible pathways into industry and forming the next generation of professional trades

The recruitment challenge

It’s no secret that our sector – like many others – is grappling with the effects of a major skills shortage. Driven largely by an ageing workforce, many professionals are approaching retirement, but not enough new talent is coming through to replace them. Exacerbating this pressure is the demand for services, with the construction industry as a whole requiring hundreds of thousands of additional professional tradespeople to fulfil sustainability ambitions.

This creates a challenge for the sector. Growth is essential if we’re to secure businesses for the future, support the next generation of professional trades and meet targets around decarbonisation, all for the benefit of people. Without that, the gap widens.

That’s why, at Novus Property Solutions, we’re committed to apprenticeships as part of our broader recruitment strategy, helping to bring new entrants into our industry with the shared ambition of improving property for people.

Why apprenticeships are essential to our future

Apprenticeships have been part of our DNA for more than eight decades. That’s when we recruited our first apprentice, and we’ve kept it up ever since, consistently bringing apprentices into Novus to develop their skills and long-term careers.

In that time, we’ve learned that apprenticeships offer something unique. Blending hands-on experiences with structured learning, apprentices can build practical skills while establishing a complete understanding of the bigger picture. The result isn’t just a capable workforce, but one that understands our business, our customers and our reason for doing what we do.

This year, as part of our recruitment campaign, we have 14 apprenticeship vacancies across a range of services – from painting and decorating through to quantity surveying.

We believe that apprenticeships are key to elevating our work and the experiences our customers receive, while also strengthening our business and opening up meaningful opportunities for our teams.

From apprentice to CEO

In our 80+ years of nurturing apprentices, we’ve seen some moments and outcomes that we’re truly proud of. But there’s one story that stands out as a bold example of what can be achieved from the foundations of an apprenticeship.

While Lee Hartley proudly serves as CEO of Novus today, he started his journey as an apprentice quantity surveyor with the business back in 1999.

“I feel fortunate to have kicked my career off with an apprenticeship,” Lee recently told PfP Thrive during National Apprenticeship Week. “Apprenticeships help build essential skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience, which are all vital in any career path.

“Apprenticeships teach you to learn quickly, adjust to new situations, and put knowledge into practice straight away. Being able to listen, share ideas clearly, and work well with different People makes a huge difference in almost any role.

“Some of the most influential moments along the way were the times I pushed myself to take on responsibilities that felt slightly outside my comfort zone. Saying yes to new challenges and staying committed to developing my skills through training, guidance from others, or learning on the job played a big part in shaping my career.”

Stories like Lee’s show just how much potential apprenticeships can hold, but they’re not the whole picture. Every new apprentice represents an investment in the future of our business, and the broader industry. Each role is also an opportunity to introduce fresh perspectives, new energy and, crucially, the skills required to meet evolving industry demands.

Welcoming apprenticeships into the business

For apprentices joining our business today, the journey begins long before their first day on the job. Our recruitment process is designed to identify potential, with telephone interviews and assessment days forming a key part, giving candidates the opportunity to learn more about us while showcasing their strengths and ambitions for the future.

By the time apprentices are inducted into our business, they don’t feel like new starters. Instead, they’re ready to begin a career that can last a lifetime, all supported by a structured, supportive environment.

This year, we’re welcoming apprentices into our business across a host of trades, from carpentry, plumbing and roofing through to administration services, quantity surveying and bid writing. One trade that has long been a key part of our business is painting and decorating, and we’re proud to have two apprenticeship vacancies to bolster this part of our offering in 2026.

As our business continues to grow, we see apprenticeships as a key part of our recruitment strategy – not just because we’ve done it that way for over 80 years, but because we know it works for our business, for our customers and for the communities we work in.

Find out more about apprenticeships at Novus and see this year’s vacancies here: www.novussolutions.co.uk/novus-careers/apprentice-hub