St Leger Homes, an organisation that manages around 22,000 homes for Doncaster Council, has welcomed two French apprentices to its team of staff.

Apprentice joiners Arthur Lardon (17), and Brice Bouchard (16), who will be living in the Thorne area during their visit, will be working alongside St Leger Homes joiners to gain work experience.

The French connection has been organised by Business & Education South Yorkshire (b&e) and the teenagers will be looked after by volunteer families in the borough, with no cost to St Leger Homes.

Rob Chapple, St Leger Homes’ business maintenance manager, said: “They are two great lads who I’m sure will enjoy working along-side our team of skilled joiners. It should be a great experience for them and I’m sure our tenants will make them feel at home. I hope they enjoy their stay in the borough.”

Thomas Asher, French apprenticeship programme manager at Business & Education South Yorkshire (b&e), said: “We are delighted to be working with St. Leger Homes once again. This is the 6th group of French apprentices that we’ve worked with so far and the next stage of the exchange programme is well underway with the pilot group of South Yorkshire students going over to France this summer. I’m confident Arthur and Brice will get a lot out of their experience at St Leger Homes and hopefully vice versa.”

The programme aims to promote good relationships between South Yorkshire and France as well as providing opportunities to share best practice.

The apprentices, who are aged between 15 and 19, spend three weeks shadowing professionals in their trade. Families are reimbursed for meals and lodgings and are fully supported throughout the whole programme by a dedicated team at b&e. The programme has been a continuing success since the first group of apprentices visited in 2007.