A formerly homeless man has been branded an inspiration after he lifted himself out of homelessness through an apprenticeship scheme that gave him a brighter future. 

Graham Hickford, 49 from St Albans, joined the Morgan Sindall Property Services (MSPS) scheme in 2022 which allowed him to become a qualified multi-skilled engineer. 

After battling addiction during his teenage years, Graham found himself in the Emmaus Hertfordshire, a hostel supporting formerly homeless individuals - which was where he was introduced to the apprenticeship.

Graham said: “What I like about MSPS is that they have given me a chance where most companies wouldn’t have, given my background. 

“MSPS gives people the opportunity to progress through providing a lot of training, which can really help you down the line.

“Emmaus supported me with housing and by allowing me to stay while I finished my apprenticeship. 

“It gave me the independence I needed to step out on my own to become self-sufficient.”

Graham is now in full time employment and is fully independent with his resilience and determination being nothing short of remarkable. 

Helen Sheen, head of social value at Morgan Sindall Property Services, said: “Graham's journey demonstrates the transforming potential of our social value initiatives. 

“By providing opportunities like our apprenticeship programmes, we not only change individual lives but also strengthen the communities we serve. 

“We are incredibly proud of Graham's achievements and his inspiring story of resilience and determination. He is a valued member of our St Albans team. ”

Graham's journey was recently celebrated at a raising awareness of homelessness event hosted by Emmaus, a charity working to end homelessness held at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire.

MSPS is committed to working with residents from diverse backgrounds, giving them the confidence and skills to achieve their ambitions. 

Find out more about our Apprenticeship Academy: https://morgansindallpropertyservices.com/working-with-us/apprentices/

Find out more about Emmaus at  https://emmaus.org.uk/