A SOICIAL housing group's graduate development programme has welcomed its first overseas students.

Two Canadian housing officers are among the latest cohort on Incommunities' award-winning Centre for Partnership GEM initiative.

Cole McNamee and Nicole Han work for Capital Region Housing, which manages nearly 5,000 rented properties in Western Canada.

"I am a firm believer in snapping up an opportunity to learn and grow," said Nicole.

"Joining the GEM programme is a great way of developing my career, achieving Chartered Institute of Housing recognition and getting an international perspective on the housing sector."

Cole said: "I have only been working in social housing for a short time and I'm particularly keen on the mentoring approach to advance my learning."

The programme also has its first two recruits from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

A number of housing associations and related organisations provide paid year-long placements as part of the scheme, which has a success rate of more than 95 per cent for people finding work on completion.

Incommunities group chief executive, Geraldine Howley, said: "The GEM programme goes from strength-to-strength, expanding from a local venture seven years ago into a UK-wide scheme that is now attracting international recruits.

"We are delighted to welcome Nicole, Cole and all our new partners and their GEMs on to this exciting programme, where they can really make a name for themselves and build rewarding careers in the sector."