Sue Allison

Two Shepton Mallet-based Aster Group apprentices have started their careers with £200 worth of tools and a toolbox gifted from Jewson Partnership Solutions. Shea Rivers, aged 17, an apprentice electrician and Jamie Bartlett, aged 19, an apprentice carpenter, are two of 12 new Aster apprentices who received new tools to help kickstart their careers. The apprentices are being trained in a range of professions including electrical, plumbing and heating, surveying and carpentry.

Local housing association Aster Group has been awarded £530,000 to improve the energy efficiency of just over 100 of its customers' homes in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. The funding is part of the government's Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 and will be matched by Aster, providing £1.1m for the works overall.