Pictured: Lauren Ostler has been offered a full time role after completing her apprenticeship programme at Connells estate agent

An apprentice sourced and trained by national apprenticeship and training provider Positive Outcomes for estate agency Connells has been taken on full time after completing the apprenticeship programme.

Negotiator Lauren Ostler undertook the apprenticeship programme at Connells' Poole branch. The programme combined a structured learning plan with practical, on-the-job training supported and delivered by Positive Outcomes' training team in the South West. Having successfully completed the qualification, which she believes has given her a competitive edge in the jobs market, she has now been taken on by Connells in a full-time role.

Louis Powell, Area Director for Connells, explains: "Connells is delighted to be supporting this excellent scheme. The fact that we have now employed Lauren as a full-time member of the branch team speaks volumes about the quality of this training. We are also looking for three more candidates to support in this scheme going forward."

Lauren adds: "I was thrilled to be offered a full-time role as a negotiator for Connells on the back of my apprenticeship. Putting the skills learned on the course into practice through the apprentice placement provides an invaluable learning opportunity which I think was key to my new position with the Poole branch."

Positive Outcomes has its head office in the East Midlands and is a top 10 Government-accredited company specialising in finding apprenticeship opportunities for school leavers. The company's Sarah Hill, head of its apprenticeship team, comments: "Apprenticeships and the Government's Apprenticeship Scheme are designed to give school leavers an edge, a job opportunity, and above all, the fantastic opportunity to acquire and develop a skill, a profession and career progression. For those like Lauren with the right level of ambition, aptitude and drive to learn, apprenticeships are excellent, whilst for employers themselves, it presents the opportunity to give their business sustainability and to create the skill base they need."

Positive Outcomes recently launched an Apprenticeship Award and training scheme in the South West. Backed by the Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE), the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP) and Asset Skills Sector Skills Council, the Estate Agency Award is based on a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship and Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship training framework.

Sarah Breadner, Positive Outcomes' Training Team Manager in the South West, explained: "This is a significant development for Estate Agents seeking to enhance and improve their professional expertise and customer service skills. The Awards' programme is designed to give them an edge over the competition, by delivering practical training on the key aspects of the estate agency profession, and the skills to give their clients the very best service and advice when selling, buying, leasing or renting a property."

Details of all Apprenticeship vacancies available through Positive Outcomes can be found at www.positiveoutcomes.org.uk. For more information and guidance on how to apply contact Apprenticeship Adviser Jade Winterton on 0845 643 5566.

Positive Outcomes is a national organisation specialising in work-based training, apprenticeships and recruitment. With its head office just off J28 of the M1 and more than 150 staff, it operates across the UK with offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol.