A COUNTY Durham housing association has been named alongside some of the UK’s biggest employers as one of the best places to work by trainees and apprentices.

Cestria Community Housing was placed at number 24 on a list of the 72 Top Employers for School and College Leavers, joining companies such as Asda, Nestle and Virgin Media.

In addition, the Chester-le-Street based company, which employs 160 people, was also named as one of the Top Intermediate Apprenticeships providers, coming in at number seven on a list of 24 national organisations.

The news was announced at the Top Employers for School and College Leavers awards, which are organised by AllAboutSchoolLeavers.co.uk and recognise companies that raise awareness of and deliver apprenticeships, school leaver programmes and sponsored degrees.

All companies included on the list were voted for and rated by their own apprentices and trainees through anonymous satisfaction surveys.

Cestria’s human resources manager Christine Wilkinson said: “We had no idea we were going to make it onto the list so it was a fantastic surprise, especially when you look at some of the other organisations included, many of which are national London-based businesses.

“The fact that the awards are based on apprentice feedback is a great endorsement for our apprenticeship programme, which is something we have put a lot of investment into over recent years.”

The company currently employs seven apprentices, both in trade and office-based apprenticeships.