Bradford’s biggest social housing landlord will use a flagship schools event to start its 2014 apprenticeship recruitment campaign.

Incommunities, which manages 22,500 rented and leasehold homes across the Bradford district, will offer seven sought-after apprenticeship opportunities in trades such as plumbing, joinery and bricklaying.

The recruitment drive will begin on March 5, half-way through National Apprenticeships Week, during the organisation’s Interbuild Skills event, a competition that sees schools come together to design, price up and build a construction project of their choice.

Delroy Beverley, Incommunities’ director of propertysolutions, is responsible for managing the company’s award-winning apprenticeship scheme, as well being chairman of the Yorkshire Regional Apprenticeship Task Force Group.

“We always try to do a signature event during the week to signify our ongoing commitment to apprenticeships,” said Mr Beverley.

“The young people really get into the Interbuild day and engage with the competition. It’s great to see their teamwork and communication skills in action, as these are skills that will be vital for their future career.”

Teams at Tong High School, Beckfoot School and Hanson Academy are set to attend this year’s competition, trying to impress a panel of judges from Incommunities, the Construction Industry Training Board and WISE, a UK charity that promotes females in the workplace.

Each school team member will be assigned a role relevant to the construction industry, such as an architect or project manager, and be supported by an Incommunities apprentice and expert tradesman.

“We strive to make the event as realistic as possible to show how it would be in the professional industry,” said Mr Beverley.

Geraldine Howley, Incommunities group chief executive, said: “We are always keen to encourage more young people to take a serious look at careers in construction and look forward to linking up with local schools as part of National Apprenticeship Week.”