An IT apprentice who helped make sure staff at a Derby-based housing trust had the technology they needed to work from home during the coronavirus lockdown has been nominated for a prestigious national award.
Jed Fowler, the assistant IT manager at Derventio Housing Trust in Boyer Street, has reached the shortlist of the Apprentice of the Year category of the Housing Heroes Awards 2020, which are organised by Inside Housing and the Chartered Institute of Housing.
The award nomination, which recognises his commitment to personal development and the contribution he has made to the organisation, comes at the end of a whirlwind couple of months for 20-year-old Jed, during which he has proven his worth by helping to set staff up with laptops and making sure that they had the software, security and access they needed to do their job without coming into the office.
A former student of Belper School, Jed joined Derventio straight from Derby College in 2018 and, when he isn’t helping the Trust to deal with the restrictions of working amidst a global pandemic, he also looks after its day-to-day IT and phone system.
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And he has even shared his knowledge with the Trust’s residents, including one man who asked him to help him set up a website and blog so that he could share his thoughts on his journey living with and recovering from the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The award-winners will be announced next month and fittingly, albeit disappointingly, Jed will learn his fate via the internet, since the organisers have had to switch to a virtual ceremony because of the social distancing measures associated with the pandemic.
He said: “I was surprised to find out that I’d been shortlisted because there are a lot of people who deserve the award ahead of me, but it will be very interesting to see how I get on.
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“It’s certainly been very busy over the past couple of months and I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Trust. I took up this role because I really like the teccie stuff, but I get a lot out of working with the residents and I’d like to do more of that kind of work in the future.
“Blogging and sharing their thoughts online can mean a lot to people, so sitting down with them and giving them the skills to set up a blog and then edit it is very rewarding.”
Derventio Housing currently manages 600 bed spaces of accommodation for single homeless people in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Wiltshire and runs a series of projects which offer them supported living and the training they need to gain employment and put their lives back on track.
Jackie Carpenter, assistant director of Derventio Housing Trust, said: “We are all very proud of Jed, who thoroughly deserves to be shortlisted for these awards in recognition for the work that he does on our behalf.
“He has proven himself to be invaluable to the Trust in a very short time, especially when we needed to ensure that our staff’s work was not affected by the lockdown, and for his work with our residents.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Derventio Housing Trust is an award-winning specialist social housing provider for people who have recently been experiencing homelessness. It is a Community Interest Company which started when it set up a temporary winter night shelter in Derby in 2003.
Owing to the high demand, it grew and developed its accommodation, its geographic coverage and complementary support services.
It currently manages 600 bed spaces of accommodation for single homeless people in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Wiltshire.
Working strategically with partners – local authorities, funders, other not-for-profits – it helps more than 1,100 people each year by offering housing, support and specialist projects in order that they improve their health and wellbeing, increase resilience and prepare for independent living, learning and employment.
For more information or details contact Simon Burch at Penguin PR by ringing 01332 416228 or 07735 397888 or emailing [email protected]
