The training gave staff practical experience in trades like plumbing, electrical work, joinery, plastering, painting, slating and bricklaying. The aim is to make the team more flexible, reduce the need for multiple visits to properties, and improve the service provided to residents. The changes will also help to lower emissions with less vehicles travelling to properties to complete repairs.

The programme is part of a wider plan to invest in staff development and make sure future apprentices are trained in a similar way.

Councillor Martin Kilbride, South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Buildings, Housing and Environment, said: “This is a great example of how we’re investing in our workforce to deliver better, more efficient services for our residents.

“Multi-skilling not only improves our response times to repairs, but it also helps us to build a more resilient service for the future.”