It has thrown its weight behind a trailblazing initiative known as GROW, which seeks to open doors to rewarding careers.

Elderpark has long been a champion of showcasing working in housing to teenagers, pointing out the variety of career options that exist within the housing sector.

Last week, it held a session for 13 schoolchildren from across Glasgow at its Govan office offering them the chance to meet staff, learn about their roles, tour the office and enjoy a relaxed lunch.

Elderpark has also grown its connection with schools in recent years in an effort to foster community empowerment on the basis that if young people learn about this topic in their developing years they will remain committed to the ethos of building and sustaining strong neighbourhoods.

Jonathan Giddings Reid, community regeneration officer at Elderpark, explained that the iniative is a key feature of the community-based housing association movement.

“Most of us who work in community-based housing see our careers as vocationally-based with an overwhelming desire to deliver good housing and build strong communities,” he added.

“It is at the heart of what we do. So we are delighted to be working with GROW from Developing the Young Workforce and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce having been fully engaged with its predecessor known as Work Aware.

“Our recent session at our office was a great success and allowed us to explain to young people beginning to consider their career options why housing offering such varied roles and can be a good choice.”

GROW stands for Glasgow Regional Opportunities at Work. It is designed to give pupils in years S3 and S4 aged around 14-16 “meaningful exposure to careers”.

With funding from global banking giants JP Morgan Chase and delivered by Developing the Young Workforce, it thrives on getting employers like Elderpark on board. Elderpark has also set aside funding for the initiative.

The housing association has a long track record of recruiting young people, with many joining the staff through apprenticeship programmes and often going on to more senior roles.

Gary Dalziel, chief executive of Elderpark, said: “We strongly support the GROW initiative which does a power of good work with young people. Elderpark is proud to be playing our part in encouraging young people to consider a career in housing.”