COUNCIL house repairs in the Wee County are being carried out faster than anywhere else in Scotland.

Clackmannanshire Council has been rated the best performer for the average time taken to complete an emergency repair – 1.91 hours compared to the Scottish average of 7.4 hours.

The performance has come to light in the first report to tenants on the Scottish Social Housing Charter and the local authority said it is thanks, in part, to local apprentices.

Council Leader Les Sharp said: “We’re very proud of our modern apprentice programme which is a valuable way for young people to experience a working environment and gain a useful qualification.

“Apprentices make a valuable contribution to the services the council provides, working alongside our experienced staff to gain their job-specific skills and qualifications.

“By providing local 16-19 year-olds with employment opportunities we are setting an excellent example for other employers to follow.

“Our apprentices are always represented at the national APSE apprentice awards due to the quality of their work with many of them reaching the final stages; indeed at the most recent awards ceremony one of our young trainees reached the final two.” The council, one of the largest employers in Clackmannanshire, has 16 apprentices employed at any one time at various stages of their four year training programme.

The apprentice joiners, painters, plumbers and electricians all get to work on housing repairs, as well as on getting empty houses ready for tenants, adaptations, public building repairs and general maintenance.

Their day release to Forth Valley College means they each have a recognised qualification at the end of their apprenticeship.