Muse Places - apprentice employer case study
We spoke to Anna Fletcher, HR Coordinator at Muse Places, to find out how a business in the early stages of its apprenticeship journey is already seeing benefits, and why partnering with the University of Salford felt like a natural fit for a company with deep roots in the Salford community.
We asked Anna...
How have apprenticeships supported workforce development, skills growth, or staff retention within your organisation?
Although we are at the early stages of our apprenticeship journey as a business, we are already seeing the positive impact on our workforce. Apprenticeships have begun to strengthen our talent pipeline, broaden access to the regeneration sector, and enhance our apprentices' skills and confidence.
More experienced colleagues now have the opportunity to take on mentoring responsibilities to support our apprentices' development.
While our two apprentices are at different stages of their journey with us, their progress has already shown that structured learning combined with hands-on experience can accelerate professional growth and prepare young people for long-term success.
What motivated your organisation to offer apprenticeships, and why did you choose the University of Salford as your training provider?
As a business, we take responsibility for improving accessibility to the sector, upskilling, and developing young people seriously. We wanted to create pathways for individuals who might otherwise have considered a career in the regeneration of the built environment. A key motivation was to grow our own talent. Apprenticeships give us the opportunity to raise awareness of the breadth of opportunities available in the industry beyond traditional construction roles.
The University of Salford, as a training provider, was the perfect fit for several reasons. The University is located a ten-minute walk from our North West office, where our two apprentices are based. We also have strong ties with the University through our regeneration projects in and around Salford, and we are committed to ensuring that young people have access to a wide range of opportunities across the regeneration sector, including in the places where we are working. The University offers a Real Estate Development and Management Apprenticeship degree, which closely aligns with the work at Muse, ensuring our apprentices gain relevant, industry-specific skills.
What are the key benefits apprenticeships bring to your organisation?
Our apprentices bring a new energy and perspective to challenge established ways of working. Apprenticeships help us build a strong talent pipeline to support our succession plan. Our apprentices have also been a huge support in driving our work experience and T-Level programme.
Based on your experience, would you recommend apprenticeships and the University of Salford to other organisations?
Yes, absolutely! Our experience so far has been extremely positive. Watching our apprentices develop has been genuinely remarkable. You don’t just see new technical skills emerging; you see confidence build, perspectives broaden, and their understanding of what a career in the industry really looks like begin to take shape. Their enthusiasm has a real impact on the wider team.
As a business, apprenticeships were completely new to us, and the University of Salford has provided outstanding support throughout the process.
What advice would you give to organisations considering apprenticeships for the first time?
Ensure your business has the right support in place for apprentices from the very beginning. Apprentices thrive when they have a dedicated mentor to guide them, answer their questions, and build their confidence. The mentoring relationship becomes a crucial part of their development, ensuring they feel valued and not overwhelmed.
Expose the students to a broad range of activities to enrich their learning. Encourage them to take responsibility whilst giving the appropriate guidance and reassurance.
