About our foundation
Work experience with a Karbon spin
This September, we're giving ten people the opportunity to step into Karbon and discover what it's like to work in the housing sector.
Over the course of a week, you'll explore the wide range of job roles and career opportunities available at an organisation like Karbon Homes. You'll then team up with another participant and gain hands-on experience in the departments that interest you most.
This is work experience with a Karbon spin. You won't just spend your time watching someone work on spreadsheets or making endless tea and coffee runs. Step into Karbon offers a meaningful programme of activities designed to develop both practical and employability skills, helping you build a pathway towards achieving your career goals.
What will I be doing during the week?
During the first half of the week, colleagues from a range of departments across Karbon Homes will introduce you to their teams and the work they do. They'll share their career journeys, explain what it's like to work in their role, talk about the projects they support and answer any questions you may have.
In the second half of the week, you'll choose the teams you'd like to learn more about and spend time job shadowing them. You'll gain hands-on experience, explore different working environments, and develop a better understanding of both the housing sector and the variety of careers within it.
We know that starting something new can feel daunting, so we've designed Step into Karbon to be a relaxed, friendly, and supportive experience. Our Employability Team will be there throughout the week to help you settle in, introduce you to different teams, and support you every step of the way. You'll also be paired with other participants, giving you the chance to learn together and support one another throughout the programme.
Which teams will be involved?
You’ll have the opportunity to work with the following teams:
Sales and Marketing
Our Sales and Marketing Team helps people find the right housing solution to suit their needs and aspirations. They support customers across a range of housing options, including shared ownership, Rent to Buy, private rent, and outright home purchase, helping both new and existing customers find a home that's right for them.
Health and Safety
Our Health and Safety Team helps colleagues across Karbon Homes work safely and confidently. They provide expert advice and support to help teams manage risks, create safe working environments and deliver services effectively. By working closely with colleagues across the organisation, they play an important role in promoting a positive culture where health, safety, and wellbeing are everyone's responsibility.
Communications and Marketing
Our Communications and Marketing Team helps raise awareness of the work we do at Karbon Homes. They engage with customers, colleagues and stakeholders to share important information, gather feedback and ensure our communications meet the needs of our audiences.
The team works across a wide range of channels, including digital, social media, print, and internal communications. They are also responsible for our website, customer magazine, public affairs activity, and press and media campaigns.
Planned Investment
Our Planned Investment Team delivers high-quality, modern, and customer-focused property services to customers across Karbon Homes. They play a key role in keeping customers safe in their homes by investing in improvements and maintaining properties to the highest possible standard.
Employment and Skills Team
Our Employment and Skills Team educate and coach our customers to build the foundational skills, experience, qualification and mind set so they have the tools to maximise their potential and achieve their career aspirations and increased digital skills.
They’ll be on hand along with recruitment specialists Sellick to support you with developing CV and application writing skills, showing how you can match yourself to specific job roles. They’ll also work on interview preparation and what the recruitment process looks like.
What will I gain from taking part?
By the end of the week, you’ll have an enhanced knowledge of the housing sector and be able to identify a particular area within Karbon or another organisation that you would be interested in developing a career in.
How do I take part?
Step into Karbon takes place at our Greengates office in Stanley, County Durham from Monday 28 September – Friday 2 October 2026, 9:30am - 4:30pm. The opportunity is open to people aged 18+. You can register your interest on this page from Monday 10 August 2026.
We’ll invite you to a taster day on Thursday 17 September 2026 from 10am – 12pm. This will give you the opportunity to find out more about Step into Karbon, ask any questions you have about the programme and make sure it’s right for you.
If you’re successful, we’ll be in touch to register you for Step into Karbon and send you everything you need in advance of the programme taking place.
Applications will close on Friday 11 September 2026 at 5pm.
We look forward to hearing from you.
